
Class _^F~Lg>_9— 



PHKSi:.\Ti;i) ISY 



ANNALS OF 

CASTLE CREEK, R Y., 

AND VICINITY 

^^t %^ t^ 

Together with Genealogies of Some of 
the Early Families* 

^^^ ^^f t^ 



By JULIUS W. LILLY 

Chicago, III., 1903. 



f^f ^^ t^ 



l"KI>TED BV THE WHITNEV'S POINT KEPOKTEK, 
WHITNEY'S POINT. N. V. 






Gift; 

MAR 4 ms 



ANNALS OF CASTLE CREEK, N. Y., 
AND VICINITY. 



How many who daily pass the old 
"red school house" in the 'Lilly' dis- 
trict, know that it had that name long- 
before Binghamtoo was on Uncle 
Sam's roster of post offices V I have 
letters now yellow with aj^e, directed 
to "Chenango Point" and others 
mailed there, which were written from 
the Lilly district, when Castle Creek 
was only '"Tater Creek," and it was 
many years later when the store and 
tavern were blessed with a post office 
and was then named Castle Creek. 
That name itself, is almost or quite 
the only remembrance left us, of the 
Indians who loved this lovely valley 
and had built the wigwam of their 
ciiicf, the '"Castle," as the white man 
called it, near where tne creek is lost 
in the bosom of the beautiful Chenan- 
go river. There used to be some old 
apple trees near that spot, which the 
Indians had plautefl, many many 
years before ana could not take with 
them, when they turned th'^ir faces 
toward the setting sun, but 1 fear they 
too, are gone! These Indians were a 
portion of the '"Nanticoke Tribe," 
formerly inhabitants of Maryland. 

The tribe was divided, a part being 
located on the eastern lower portion 
of the Wyoming Valley, and others at 
Owego, Chenango and Choconut, 
(spelled in old histories Chokunut and 
Chukoanut.) Their chief was "Squire" 
Antonio, which title was given him by 
the whites on account of his just de- 
cisions, his correct judgment and his 
sober habits. He was very much es- 
teemed by the white people, as well as 
revered and loved by his own. He 
was intelligent, but spoke English 
very poorly. Hs was a descendant of 
the Delawares that were defeated in 
the ••grasshopper" war at Wyoming. 
The ''Castle" farm, or reservation of 
160 acres, later occupied by Joseph 
and Thomas Laycock, was by an in- 



trigue of a Yankee named Patterson, 
taken by fraud from the Indians, but 
they, some time afterward, took his 
life in revenge. 

It is said that in the early days of 
the settlement, a resident was fording 
the stream with a load of potatoes, 
which were lost by the giving way of 
his wagon box. They floated down 
with the current and becoming self 
planted, produced quite a harvest. 
Hence the name — "Potato Creek." 

The town of Cbenaugo was colon- 
ized under the most unfavorable 
auspices. Hardships and privations 
were then passed through which are 
unknown to the settlers of new counties 
in these modern times. As a writer 
has said, '"the people then had more 
pains in their bodies than in their 
windows." 

The Broome County Herald once 
published some items regarding 
Broome-co. in 1813. "It was then 
composed of six towns: Berkshire, 
Lisle, Tioga, Union, Nanticoke, Oua- 
quago, Colesville and Chenango Point, 
which was the county seat and contain- 
ed 45 houses and stores. The county 
first began to be settled by, or before 
1790, by farmers largely from western 
Massachusetts. The population was 
8129 and its voters numbered 655. A 
goodly part of the county was heavily 
timbered and wild game was very 
abundant. 

The "Annals of Binghamton" were 
first published in 1S40 by J. B. Wilk- 
inson. That edition was exhausted 
and it was reprinted by the "Times 
Association" in 1872, with notes by 
George Park. Esq. An appendix was 
"also written by Prof. George Jackson, 
thus bringing the history down to 
1872. There are yet a few copies of 
this edition in the market. In this 
history the village of Binghamton is 
made the center of interest, but other 



places in the county (Broome) are 

treated of in some measure, according 

to their relation to it. 

It is said that previous to 1840, 

Colonel William Rose, one of the first 

settlers, made historical minutes to an 

important extent, but unfortunately 

they were lost or accidentally burned. 
* * 

These rambling- memories and 
records of the early settlers do not 
profess to be complete or absolutely 
correct, but are given because of a 
desire to gather together, before it is 
too late, a record of those who pre- 
ceded us and who helped to make life 
easier for us who followed. Any cor- 
rections or additional facts will be 
welcomed by the writer and embodied 
in a later chapter, which will be pre- 
pared when such data is received. 
These facts are gained from old letters 
and from the memories of the "oldest 
inhabitants and are at best but frag- 
mentary. 

* 
Some early occupants of farms on 
Castle Creek, commencing with the 
"Castle farm" on the river, at the 
junction of the Creek road, passing 
northward, were Thomas, Clement and 
Ebenezer French, Daniel Bishop who 
soon sold to Franklin French, Captain 
James Temple, the Johnsons', Nathan- 
iel and Lyman Lee, David and Jede- 
diah Seward, (the latter an old Revo- 
lutionary soldier), Stephen S. Tomp- 
kins, Henry Siver. Tyrus and John 
Page, Sylvanus Dimmick, Amos Wil- 
cox, Ariel Rood, Samuel Mills and 
Root French, a Mr. Bissell, Orsamus 
Lilly, Hiram Davis. Isaac Bowen, 
Henry Lilly, Samuel Hand, the Dor- 
mans and Sewards who sold to Ammi 
Doubleday and Harry Pierce, of Bing- 
hamton, Arunah Hall, Foster Lilly, 
Jonathan Lilly, Tidall Knapp, Daniel 
Bishop and Ira French, Alexander 
White, Nathan Marsh, Eliphalet 
Phelps, Judson Phelps, brother of 
Apollos N. Phelps, David L. Hall. 
Frank Brooks, Bradley Alderman and 
son Israel P.; Samuel Hawkes, A. N. 
Phelps, James Gaylord, Abner Wood, 
Riley Parker and others whose names 
cannot be recalled. This list embraces 
only those who resided south of the 
village proper. On the "Oak Hill" 
road were Mr. Newman, Oliver Hatch, 
Harvey Westfall, Chester Pease, Rich- 



ard Parker and Truman Satchwell. 
Later comers were Isaac Howard, 
George and William Ross, brothers 
and others unknown to the writer. On 
the Dimmick Hill road, some of the 
residents were the .Johnsons, Jesse 
Heller, John Congdon, Albert West, 
Hiram West, Calvin Shepard, l^ewis 
Bishop, Sylvester St. John, Horace 
Tread well, Milo Isbell, George and 
Warren Matteson, Simeon Dimmick 
and sons Sylvanus. Constant and 
John. The neighborhood was named 
in honor of the Dimmicks, and while 
they were primarily the pioneers in 
the settlement of that place, yet their 
lives were so intermingled with the 
history of Castle Creek, that its his- 
tory would be incomplete without some 
reference to the various members of 
the family, which will be taken up in 
its order later on. 

* * 
* 

Ariel Rood is said to have been the 
pioneer settler on the place, owned 
later on in succession by Samuel Mills, 
Root French, and John S. Knapp. 
Samuel Mills at one time owned a 
part interest in the Orsamus Lilly saw 
mill, which interest he sold to Mr. 
Lilly about 1842. The first public 
highway ran close to the creek, passing 
by the Lilly mill. 

The whole district was densely 
wooded with giant pines, whose stumps 
have but recently disappeared on the 
John S. Knapp farm, with tall hoary 
hemlocks, with fat juicy maples, many 
of which were left for sweetness long 
afterward, with generous chestnuts 
climbing up the hills, while oak, beech, 
birch, basswood and other timber was 
abundant. The family for whom the 
"Lilly" district is named was 07ie of 
the first to enter this rough forest and 
we will begin with them. 

Foster Lilly and wife, Deborah Hall 
Lilly, with a goodly number of chil- 
dren, came in 1816, from Ashfield, 
Mass., which had for years been the 
dwelling place of many of the name. 
They came in the usual manner of 
that time, with a good and substantial 
team of horses and wagon. Foster 
purchased a large tract of land in the 
so called "Boston Purchase," located 
some two miles south of the ' 'Hollow." 
He made trips with his team to Syra- 
cuse, as occasion required, to get the 



necessary domestic supplies for his 
own and his nei>;hbors use. 

This memorable year of 181(i was 
lonji' remembered by that generation. 
"It was the coldest summer ever re- 
corded in the country 's history . Frost 
and SLOW were constant visitors the 
entire season through. Ail crops in 
the New England States were utterly 
ruined. Breadstuffs went soaring' and 
people were on the verge of starva- 
tion. " It is remembered that one 
"Tater Creek" family had on one of 
those days, soup made from the par- 
ings of the potatoes eaten the day be- 
fore and nothing else. Acd as usual 
the head of the house invoked a bles- 
sing upon the food, after which one of 
the young olive branches remarked, 
'■mother, I don't th.ink that I would 
insult the Lord by asking Him to bless 
potato parings." One srood wife was 
moved by the alarming scarcity of 
food, to count out a certain number of 
beans, at meal time, to each of her 
numerous flock, hoping in that way to 
make them go farther; and the children 
were glad to eat even the feet of 
chickens that had been cooked and 
also the potato skins, that nothing 
might be lost. On one occasion as 
Foster Lilly was about to make a trip 
to get supplies, a neighbor gave him 
a very handsome ten dollar bill, with 
which to buy grain for food. The first 
dealer to whom he offered it refused it, 
saying it was not good. When pay- 
ing his bill to a second dealer, he 
espied this bill, saying, "Oh what a 
pretty bill, I want it." Lilly told him 
it was said to be not good, but as he 
persisted, a deal was effected. I have 
been told that had it not been for the 
grain purchased with that bill, the 
family would have perished with 
hunger. In those days of wildcat 
money it was very difficult to deter- 
mine if a bill was genuine. 

I well recollect my father's stories 
of the experiences of some of the pi- 
oneers; of how they were sometimes 
kept awake at night, by the snarling 
and fighting of wolves and other wild 
animals, which thrashed about in the 
adjacent underbrush; how two of his 
brothers once went to the barn to feed 
the stock and when ready to return to 
the house, were some time delayed by 
a pack of hungry gray timber wolves 
which had camped on their trail. 



They were given the right of way and 
after a season of waitiuiT they passed 
on and away, after which the return 
trip was speedily made. Wild animals 
were uncommonly plenty when the first 
settlers came. Martens were plenty 
and w^re cauk'ht in deadfalls for their 
fur. Panthers were frequently met 
with and shot by hunters. Bears, 
wolves and wild cats were numerous 
and large. Deer were very numerous; 
they were sometimes seen, twenty or 
thirty in a herd. Of this species of 
game, great numbers were killed year- 
ly- 
Three sons of Foster Lilly, Alvah, 
Foster and Arunah, became Presby- 
terian ministers. The former, Alvah, 
died but a few years since at White- 
water, Wis., at the ripe old age of 96. 
His daughter, Catherine, has for many 
years been a teacher and is at present 
enffaged in this work at Milwaukee. 

In 1832 Orsamus Lilly, Henry Lilly 
and Arunah Hall were elders of the 
First Presbyterian church at Bing- 
hamton 

* * 
* 
The pioneer school house in the 
"Lilly" district, sometimes called the 
'•lower school house." was located on 
the west side of the highway, nearly 
opposite the present giant elm tree, 
skirting the Orsamus Lilly farm, just 
north of the present farm house. Just 
south of the school house was a small 
creek, having its source far up the 
western hills, at the head of a deep 
and picturesque gulf or ravine, the 
sides of which were thickly studded 
with trees and saplings. This gulf 
was a favorite resort for the children 
of the entire neighborhood, and indeed 
it is to this day, often visited by par- 
ties from Binghamton, and other 
points. 

The school house was constructed of 
planking, with an outer covering of 
clapboards. The seats were made of 
slabs smooth side up, supported by 
wooden legs, which were originally 
small saplings. As early or earlier 
than 1833, Sunday Schools and ser- 
vices were held within its walls. 
Among the earliest preachers were 
Rev. Marcus Ford, D. D. Gregory and 
F. Janes. One of the early school 
teachers was Jane Freelove Water- 
man, a granddaughter of James Wil- 
son, one of the signers of the Declara- 



tioD of Independence. She inarried 
Amos Wilcox, who lived to a ripe old 
agre and recently died on his farm in 
the neighborhood. Mrs. Wilcox died 
there some time later. Other early 
teachers were Alonzo Freeman, Wil- 
liam West, a brother of Albert West, 
who lived on Dimmick Hill: Dr. John 
Munsell, who married Mary Dunn, 
daughter of John Dunn; Pamelia 
Livermore, (Mrs. Harry Lyon, recent- 
ly deceased: ) Sabrina Bishop, (Mrs. 
James Gay lord:) Betsey Hoard, (Mrs. 
Alson Congdon;) Laui*a Carey, a 
member of Orsamus Lilly's family; 
Martha West, daughter of William 
West, and Sally Hall, daughter of 
''Uncle" Arunah Hall, an early set- 
tler, a great uncle of Prof. G. Stanley 
Hall, now President of Clark Univer- 
sity, Worcester, Mass., one of the 
leading educators of the present day. 
Sally Hall was a remarkable scholar 
and as a teacher had great ability. 
She taught for many years in this dis- 
trict ana some time later married a 
Mr. Curran and lived and died in 
Vestal, N. Y. Her mother, Achsah 
Lyon Hall, was own cousin to Mary 
Lyon, of Mt. Holyoke, Mass. Not 
far from 1851 a new school house was 
built, about a half mile farther north, 
on a lot adjoining land owned by 
Jonathan Lilly, (ray father) and near- 
ly opposite the southern boundary of 
my grandfather, Foster Lilly's farm, 
whose house stood at the top of the 
hill, northward. Some of the first 
teachers in this new domicile were. 
Nelson Holden, of Vermont: Charles 
Miller, of Kattelville; Elizabeth 
Young, daughter of Hugh Young, of 
Oak Hill: Jane Bowen, daughter of 
Isaac Bowen: Caroline Nash; Ann 
French, daughter of Root French, who 
married Edgar B. Smith, son of Dea- 
con Lyman B. Smith; Lucy Lilly, 
daughter of Orsamus Lilly, who mar- 
ried Newton B. Hand; Achsah L. 
Lilly, sister of Lucy, who married 
William B. Slosson. They removed 
to Albany. Kansas and now reside in 
Houston. Texas; Juliaette Alderman, 
who married Captain Newell P. Rock- 
wood and now live at Castle Creek; 
Lovisa Houtih, daughter of Alvah 
Hough, who married James Hogg, of 
'■Alt. Ettrick;" and Mary J. Blair, 
daughter of Edson Blair, of Oak Hill. 
She married Lucius VV. Moody; they 



settled at Buffalo, N. Y., and remov- 
ed some time after to New Haven, 
Conn. She has been an M. D. for 
many years. At this date, I have just 
learned that Mr. Moody recently died 
in California, whence he had gone for 
the benefit of his health. If I have 
omitted any teachers from my list, will 
the party or parties, if living, please 
stand up and be counted? What cart 
loads of fun we all had at the ' "spelling 
bees," both at the home school and 
outlying schools, of a winter's eve I 
It is a matter of unwritten history, 
that when it came to "spelling down" 
that Martha White, Ellen French, 
Eunice Lilly and Julius W. Lilly of 
the Lilly district, were a winning com- 
bination ! 

The earliest settler of which I have 
record, was Jedediah Seward, born at 
Granville, Mass., 1753. He saw much 
service, as a private in the Revolu- 
tioary War. It is claimed that he 
came with his family to what is now 
Glen Castle, in 1786. He was buried 
in the cemetery there, and the C. A. 
Tompkins's Post G. A. R., placed at 
his grave a soldier's marble head 
stone, and the Tuscarora Chapter D. 
A. R. of Binghamton, also placed 
there a "Bronze Marker." It is said 
that a younger brother, David, came 

with him. 

* * 

Daniel Bishop, of Suffield, Conn., 
born 177.3, married Katie Kent, about 
1797, by whom he had three children. 
He is said to have been living on the 
Franklin French farm at Glen Castle, 
as early as 1805. His wife died in 
1807. The place was owned by Lucy 
Veels, a sister of Hannah Sluyter, 
whose family lived at or near Bing- 
hamton (Chenango Point.) Daniel 
Bishop and Hannah Sluyter were 
married Sept. 18, 1808, and they re- 
moved to the Creek, or "Hollow" 

about 181-4 or 15. 

* * 
* 

1808-1812. Sylvanus Phelps, a na- 
tive of Suffitld, Conn., a relative of 
Mrs. Sarah Phelps Alderman, (Mrs. 
Bradley Alderman, ) born in 1784, was 
a man of tine physique, broad shoul- 
dered, a six footer and over and a 
giant in stature and strength. He was 
very fond of hunting and wild adven- 
ture, and in 1808, perhaps earlier, 
shouldered his knapsack of clothing. 



ammunition, guns, etc., and started 
out on a westward tramp, over into 
"York" State, and after some days 
brought up in a dense and unbroken 
wilderness, later known as "Tater 
Creek." He cleared a little plot of 
ground, where now stands the house 
of Israel P. Alderman, and put up a 
rude log shanty and "roughed it" for 
a period. B^indin^ it an ideal hunting 
ground, abounding with game, he pur- 
chased a large tract of land in that 
vicinity, some of which comprised the 
farms later known as the Huntley, 
Brooks and Alderman places. 

It is supposed that he bought this 
tract of wild forest land on his first 
trip. He afterward made three or 
four trips, usually coming early in 
the winter and after hunting for sever- 
al weeks would then tramp back home 
to Suffield. At the close of his last 
visit east, he became over heated in a 
fox chase and after arrival home be- 
came ill with a fever, from which he 
died in Feb. 1812. It is said that in 
his travels he was everywhere on his 
route known as the "big yankee." An 
incident once occurred at Albanv, N. 
Y. As he was putting up'at a 
"tavern," after unlimbering his knap- 
sack and other belongings, a bunch 
of fresh young men, some five or six, 
began to make sport of him and 
stumped him to wrestle with them. He 
told them that he did not want to fight 
or hurt any one, but if they cared to 
tackle him in a fair and decent man- 
ner, they were welcome to do so. As 
he stepped back to one side of the 
room, they advanced on him, when he 
shot out his long arms right and left 
and landed them all in a heap on the 
floor. After this episode they let him 
severely a.lone. The landlord had 
forewarned them they better not meddle 
with the "big yankee." 

After his death this tract of land fell 
to his brothers and sisters; one of 
whom was the late Apollos N. 
Phelps. Bradley Alderman, set- 
tled on a portion of it in 1828. 
Eliphalet Phelps was at one time on 
the southern portion, but owing to the 
fact that his ambition was small, the 
land did not show much improvement 
during his occupancy. He sold off a 
piece of the south-west corner of the 
plot, to Foster Lilly, whose farm ad- 
joined it. Israel P. Alderman relates 



"that when he was a small boy, Mr. 
Lilly built a barn on his new purchase; 
that he attended the 'raising,' and as 
was then customary, a little 'sperits' 
was provided for those who assisted. 
However, no one took too much, as 
the liquid was the pure stuff." 

After Eliphalet Phelps left the place 
the land reverted to Apollos Phelps, 
of Conn., who in 1845, sold it to Jud- 
son Phelps, his nephew, (a brother of 
Apollos N. Phelps.) Judson very 
much improved and developed the 
place and after some time sold it to 
Joseph Huntley, who remained there 
for some years. 

Albert West, Isaac Bates and 
Sylvanus Judd operated a stagecoach 
line late in the '40s, the route being 
from Binghamton, up the Creek road 
to Whitney's Point and return. It 
was an old style Concord, drawn by 
four horses. Its driver had and used 
the traditional stage coach horn. The 
greeting which all school children in 
the Lilly district were taught to give 
to passers by, never failed to be ren- 
dered in due form to the occupants of 
the old stage coach; the boys lined up 
and manfully doffed their hats and 
bobbed their heads, while the little 
girls gave a graceful courtesy. 

It must have been a sort of "blue 
Monday" to very many people for 
miles about the French grist mill ( at 
Glen Castle) when the water in the 
creek became so low that no grinding 
of grain could be done. It is said 
that "Uncle John Seymour," father of 
Henry Seymour, of Whitney's Point, 
used to tell of going in a canoe to 
"Willow Point" to mill, taking grists 
for all the neighbors and being gone 
three weeks. When folks went to mill 
those days, there was no telling when 
they would get back. 

The very large farm at the top of 
the hill, just north of the village, had 
thereon a "tavern" kept at one time 
by William Porter and also by Milton 
Stevens. This was a stopping place 
for drovers, who frequently had 300 
or more, cattle or sheep, in transit 
"overland" to the markets of New 
York, Philadelphia or Baltimore — 
previous to the time when shipments 
could be made by R. R. In certain 
seasons of the year there might be 
droves along every other day or so, 
and adequate accommodations for 



such lai'ge herds were nob frequent. 

The Dunham log houses (on Dun- 
ham Bill — now Anoka) were built in 
1838 and the families moved therein 
the next year. A few men, and a few 
only, are now living who helped at 
the "raising" of these houses, which 
were in the midst of an immense tract 
of woodland. Among others there 
were, William Twiss, George Eldridge 
and Peter Knapp, the two last named 
working on the same logs, which were 
to form the front of the house. There 
were skillful woodmen in those days 
and they carried good axes, and it 
was considered a nice job to tit the 
logs so as to make good corners next 
the road. Harry J3. Stoddard, the 
Marean brothers, the Aliens and 
Paynes from Nanticoke, were there 
and happy in the prospect of near 
neighbors soon. When the West 
Creek men were done they scattered 
through the woods hunting chestnuts. 

Abner. Amos, .Joshua and Asa 
Adams were lumbermen and they used 
to journey down to Castle Creek, up 
the Spencer Hill, over to Dimmick 
school house, past Breakers' Corners 
(West Chenango,) so called by an 
insane woman who used to fancy there 
were house breakers around; over Mt. 
Ettrick and down to Delano's Corners 
to get two pairs of oxen shod at a 
time. They thought nobody could 
shoe oxen like the "Dilnoes" and if 
they started at one o'clock in the 
morning and got back at the same 
time in the night, they called it a good 
days work. 

Henry Lilly cleared up a portion of 
the Doubleday farm, located just 
north of his brother Orsamus' place. 
He built a house on the east side of 
the highway, just north of the present 
barn site. He was a Millwright and 
built several saw mills on the Creek, 
which were the first ones in that vicini- 
ty- 

Orsamus and Jonathan Lilly did an 
extensive lumbering business, owning 
and operating saw mills for many 
years. Later on, after the timber had 
been exhausted, Jonathan manufact- 
ured and sold large quantities of 
wagon spokes' lath and fence pickets 
and after that he invented, made and 
sold many wellcurbs or windlasses. 

In the early days when huge lumber 



piles dotted Jonathan Lilly's mill 
yards, there was near by a beautifui 
grove of maples, and camp mettings 
were often held therein. At sundry 
times during these meetings, some of 
the unregenerate youths of the vicinity 
would climb upon a pile of lumber, 
when some of their number would 
stand upon one end of a board, while 
others would lift high in the air the 
other end and suddenly letting go of 
it, it would spring back with a re- 
sounding whack, whereat these wicked 
boys would in chorus shout "AmenL 
Amen!" for the edification of the 

worshippers. 

* * 
* 

"Wilkinsons' Annals" states that. 
"Henry French built the first grist- 
mill in the County." As near as 1 can 
learn it was not Henry but Clement 
and Thomas French, who had grist 
and saw mills, which stood side by 
side. He also states that Amasa 
Leonard was an early settler on the 
river road. He should have said 
Amaziali Leonard. A maiden sister 
lived there with him, named Louisa 
Leonard, and Charles Holmes' mother 
lived with her until she died along in 
the '4Us. 

* 
Isaac Bates married a sister of Rev. 
Enos Putfer. They had a son Horace. 
An anecdote is handed down, which I 
will here record. A young man of the 
neighborhood was proposing to accept 
a business positionin New York City. 
It came to the ears of "Obe," (there 
was but one Obe. ) He is said to have 
I'emarked — "What I H — going to 
New York! " '"Might just as well put 
him right on the devil's gun boat and 

send him straigth to hell! " 

* * 

■X- 

Dr. Daniel Braynard of New Hamp- 
shire, settled at Chenango Forks in 
1820. He practiced at the Creek, more 
or less, for some time. Dr. Salphron- 
ieus H. French, who graduated at the 
Berkshire, Mass. Medical College in 
1833, practiced for a little while befoi'e 
settling at Lisle, N. Y., in 1836. His 
successor was Dr. Cyrus Saunders, 
who studied with Dr. Peltiah B. 
Brooks, at Binghamton. He staid 
one year, when Dr. Peltiah's son. Dr. 
James Brooks, settled at the Creek in 
1837. His successor was Dr. Loren 
Salisbury, who came about 1839. He 



was a son of Deacon Cyvvis Salisbury, 
of Lisle. He removed to Cincinnali, 
O., in Ibol, and enga^'ed in the drug- 
business. His successors were John 
Munsell, S, P. Allen, KrankTav lor. Kit 
Carson i^'rench and Arthur t}lair,sonof 
Edson. Other non-resideuts who prac- 
ticed quite extensively were Silas 
West. Dr. Blackman, Peltiah B. 

Brooks and R, R. Uarr. 

* * 

Josiah West is supposed to have 
been the first Post Master. Dr. Salis- 
bury inay have been his successor. 
James Bristol had the office for sever- 
al yearo thereafter. His successor was 
Darwin Howard, who was succeeded 
by O. M. Good speed, and the latter 
by Chas. M. .lohnson. the present in- 
cumbent. About 1848 Dr. Salisbury had 
a select school for youat>' ladies. 
Sarah Lilly, dau^jhter of Poster, also 
kept a select school in her father's old 
house. Some of her pupils were 
.r\bis'a,il Alderman, .Jane Bowen, Laura 
Gary, .Jane. Martha and Lucy Lilly, 
Sarah Lilly taupht the "Hvde Sti-eet'' 
district school in 183.9. The current 
price then paid lady teachers was 
>B1.25 per week. 

' t' 

William West is said to have been 
the tirst store keener. He sold goods 
in a portion of his dwelling as early 
as 182.3, and continued in business for 
about 20 years. Potash was then a 
current article of trade, in exchange 
for goods. It was worth some $300 OU 
per ton in the Canadian market. The 
Wests, true to their name, went west 
about 1842. Lyman B. Smith opened 
a store April 1st, 1847, and continued 
in business until 18.57, at which date 
Cornelius E. Dunn purchased a part 
of his stock and remained in business 
for a short time. 

In a letter recently received from 
Deacon L. B. Smith, he says — "The 
mercantile business of Castle Creek, 
received its death blow when the Syra- 
cuse and Binghamton R. R. was built, 
in passing through Chenango Porks 
instead of the Creek. Upon the whole 
I did very well there. I had a large 
trade in wagon spokes, firkins and 
barrel staves. I sometimes took in 
$100 daily for those goods from team- 
sters who were drawing butter and 
other produce to Binghamton to ship, 
but wiien the railroad was completed, 



ail this business was eni'Ied. My trade 
decreased '$4000 the following year." 

.Jacob Burroughs and Richard 
Town send were early blacksmiths. 
David tngersoll was "tavern" keeper 
in 1842. Philarraon Goodspeed came 
in 1849. He operated a saw mill for 
some years. 

* 

Mrs. Harriet (Siratton) West, the 
widow of Albert Wpst. who now re- 
sides with her daughter at Sabetha, 
Ivan^as, says that her father, Nathan 
Stratton, and wife Susan (Carter) 
Stratton, settled on Dimmick Hill be- 
fore 18 lo. His widow, Susan Stratton 
was the third wife of Tyrus Page. She 
came with her parents from New 
Hampshire, Her sister, Lucy Carter, 
married Linus Smith. 

Linus Smith of New Hampshire, an 
early settler, established a branch of 
the '"Washingtonian Total Abstinence 
Society." The parent society was 
organiz-^d at Baltimore, Md., in 1840. 
The movement was carried into up- 
wards of KiO towns and at the close of 
1841 over 100.000 pledges had been 
taken, more than one-third of whom 
were eontirmed drunkards. The old 
Washingtonian Hall near Hooper, is 
a reminder of those days. The writer 
has one of those pledges which was 
taken by his father in 1840. It is 
gilded and about the size of a ten 
dollar gold piece and seems as lustrous 
as the day it was made. The children 
of Linus Smith and Lucy (Carter) 
Smith were, Caroline, who married 
and went to Mass.; Jane, married 
Frank Brooks, who married 2d the 
widow of .Joseph Shepard and they 
now live near Binoharaton: and Mary 
Ann, who married Dexter Havvkes. 
Linus Smith lived and died on his 
farm near Dimmick Hill, later occu- 
pied by his son-in-law. Dexter Hawkes. 

* * 

Hiram Davis who married Selina 
Stowell lived at one time on the Lewis 
Haight farm. He had a son Sylvester 
who lived for many years with Jona- 
than Lilly. 

* * 
* 

Apollos Phelps of Suffield, Conn., 
a brother of Mrs. Bradley Alderman, 
tirst visited the Creek in 1830, making 
the journey with his horse and buggy, 
to visit her. He was a large man of 
strongly marked individuality and all 



-10— 



of his ways and expressions were pe- 
culiar unto himself. He is said to 
have been impressed in a dream be- 
fore leaving home, that God had some 
work for him to do in the vicinity of 
Castle Creek. Upon arriving in the 
neighborliood, he chanced to hrst slop 
at Foster Lilly's to enquire the way to 
his sister's place. He also enquired 
in particular as to their religious ex- 
periences and that of the vicinity in 
general, saying that the Lord had sent 
him and that He had a work for him 
to do there. He then drove on to his 
destination. Within a few days he 
had visited every house in the vicinity, 
telling all that God had sent him to 
them, and asked them to get together 
in order to hold a prayer meeting, 
which they did. There being as yet 
no "meeting houses" they met in vari- 
ous dwellings and at times in barns 
and the Lord greatly blessed those 
meetings in the conversion of many of 
the young people and several heads of 
families. Among the converts were 
Ira and Root l^'rench and Jonathan 
Lilly. It is related that after meeting- 
Mr. Phelps for the hrst time, Mrs. 
Samuel Havvkes and Mrs. Foster Lilly 
were both of the same mind, "Thought 
him crazy on the subject of religion," 
but changed their minds after 
farther acquaintance I At the hrst 
meeting which was held at the home of 
Samuel Hawkes, it is said Mr. Phelps 
remarked ""that he felt impressed there 
was some one present who was resist- 
ing God's spirit," and pointing to 
Mrs. Hawkes said "I think it is that 
sister over there in the corner; let her 
put that child off her lap and get 
down and pray." She did not then 
do so, but afterward said that she felt 
in hir heart to say, "I will not put my 
child down and pray," but God's spirit 
did not leave her, but kept knocking 
at her heart until she was so overcome, 
she was forced to kneel down and 
pray. She often related tnese inci- 
dents to her friends with tears of joy 
streaming down her face. Numbers 
of the participaats of those meetings, 
in speaking of them to each other, 
were unanimously airreed that neitlier 
before nor after did they ever attend 
such blessed meetings. Mr. Phelps 
was not converted until past 40 years 
of age: but from thence forward he 
became one of God's chosen instru- 



ments for good. He was ever as a 
little child in all his religious ways 
and prayers; his was the prayer of 
faith, fully believing that God would 
fulfill all His promises if we were wil- 
ling to do just as He bade us. He was 
signally blessed in being allowed to 
see results for good: never taking any 
credit to himself: giving unto God all 
the glory: himself but an humble in- 
strument in His hands. He would 
leave his harvest field or any avoca- 
tion in which he might be engaged and 
go forth whither he felt impressed by 
the spirit; yet he never so went with- 
out being sent, allowing us to judge 
by results that followed. This was his 
manner, even unto his dying day, at 
the ripe old age of 93 years. The text 
selected for his funeral service was: 
''Truly a great man in Israel has 
fallen this day," not great as judged 
by the world, but by God. 

THE WESTS. 

Recollections of Mrs. Harriet N. 
Boardman, as related to her daughter, 
Mrs. Mary H. Stack pole, of River- 
head, N. Y., (Long Island), October 
1900, at Castle Creek. N. Y. 

Josiah West, son of Thomas, removed 
with theirfamilies from near Brattlebo- 
ro,Vt. ,to VVhitesboro,N. Y.. and thence 
in 181-4, to what is now Castle Creek, 
N. Y. It was then a wilderness and 
they cut the first road through from 
Chenango Forks. 

About where now stands the house 
of Anthony North, they found a log 
cabin, which had been occupied as a 
logging camp. It had no doors or 
windows, which were soon supplied. 
Great hemlock trees stood within a few 
feet of the cabin, and encouipassed it 
for miles about. There was a road 
from Whitney's Point to Binghamton, 
such as it was, through Hyde settle- 
ment, to what later on was Asa 
Knapp's place, on Adams-st., and 
from thence through to the Oak Hill 
road, where later on lived Richard 
Knapp, the Stoddards and Blairs. 

Southward about two miles, came 
Foster Lilly and family, in ISKi, which 
place many years later was owned by 
.lohn Cunningham and Willis Blair. 

Yet two miles farther south lived 
Thomas French, who built the earliest 
saw and grist mills in the county, now 
called Glen Castle. 

Not much later Phineas Spencer 



-11- 



-came wifh'his family, and'biiilt a log 
ojabin on Speijeer Hill, just west <rf 
<Jastle Cfeek. 

Josiah West bougfefc iatid oh tfee 
■west side ef the road, extesdiag frooa 
ithe foot of Cherry Ridge (Gaylord 
Hilli) to the top of the big- hill just 
nortii o<f the present vlilage of <Ja«tle 
"Creek. They went to '■'Cape Street," 
later called Kattellville, to services ob 
Sunday and there Williata West, the 
>eldest son of Josiah West, (1;) l^ecame 
-acquainted with Mary Smith, a schooi 
(teacher, whose home was at Windsor, 
N. Y., aod he married her in ISII. 
They began iiouse-keeping in a little 
log (school.) house at the f<x)t (north) 
of Cherry Riage Hill, the west side of 
ahe road. Their eldest -child^ Rachel, 
was born there io ISIS. The followiog 
year William built a sfsall bouse on 
%he south side of the Si)er>cer HiU 
road, at the foot of the hill. This was 
^he first frame house in the vicinity 
iind was about lii by IS, on-e room, 
with a large tire place, with outside 
"Chimney, and a pantry beside it. He 
soon after added a '*leaE-to'^ for a 
bed- room and a square room for a 
loom. In this house Harriet aed 
Sarah were born. In 18'12 Williara 
was converted, and being desirous of 
entering the ministry, removed his 
family to Hamilton, N. Y., and entered 
the Baptist Theological Seminary. 
While there Warren and Martha were 
born. He returned to Castle Creek in 
1826, and Nathaniel Kendrick was 
born in the frame house before men- 
tioned. The ne.xt year William went 
to Killawog as pastor of the Baptist 
•church and William W. was born 
there in 1829. William then came 
back to Castle Creek, moving into the 
tavern, where his father, Josiah, had 
been iivin?. This tavern stofid where 
Anthony North now lives. Here was 
born Josiah Ci) in 18.'U, Mary Achsah 
1S33. and Laura IS.'W. 

Josiah (1| lived in the house on 
Spencer road, while his son lived in 
the tavern. Josiah built a new house 
where Mr. Newcorab now lives, and 
William came to live with him. 
Josiah (1) had four sons and three 
dausfhters, viz: 

William married Mary Smith, 
daughter of Miles Smith, a native of 
N. H. They had 10 children. Sally 
married William Carev. She had 



issue, Cai-oline tDenison), Selinda, 
Thomas. Martha and Laura. Hiram, 
married Dolly Congdon. Laura, after 
Sally died, was married to William 
Cary ; 2d wife.) They had one daugh- 
ter and two sons. Josiah (2) married, 
1st. Deborah Wood, and had children, 
Jerome, Francis, Elijah, Josiah and 
Lydia. He married 2d, Sabrina Wood 
and had two sons, Charles and Al- 
fred, Polly married Riley Parker and 
they had five children, George, Hial, 
Jane, Orlatido and Henry. Henry 
Parker enlisted in the Civil War and 
was among the missing after the battle 
of Bull Run. A comrade saw him fall, 
but nothing more is known of his fate. 

William West, after his return from 
Killawog, taught school in the Lilly 
district, in the pioneer school house, 
?iear Orsamus Lilly's. He took Rachel 
and Harriet with him in a one horse 
wagon each day. He gave liberally 
towards building the Presbyterian 
church where now stands the present 
M. E, church. While at Killawog he 
became a Presbyterian and he preached 
in that church after it was completed. 
Dea. Josiah was an Elder and his sons 
William, and Orlando, and his grand- 
daughters, Rachel and Harriet West 
and Caroline Cary were Charter 
Members. The orginization of this 
church occurred in the school house, 
in the Lilly district, and baptisms oc- 
curred in the waters of the creek which 
flowed past that school house, near 
by. 

Orlando West was killed by the fall 
of a tree in the woods svest of the village 
in "Canada," when about 2;> years of 
age, 

Josiah (1) had a sister Fanny, who 
married and settled in the Lake Coun- 
try near the Ontario. Thomas West 
and wife, ( Molly Joy ) parents of 
Josiah (I) had ten acres of land, where 
Eli Boardman lived from 1ST7 to time 
of his death in April 1900. Thomas 
West died in 1S2S and was buried in 
the cemetery back of the Baptist 
church. Josiah ( 1 ) set out the orchard 
where Jerome Alderman lived and 
died. William, st)n of Josiah (1) 
brought apple seeds from their old 
home in Whitesboro, N. Y., and plant- 
ed them in a small nursery which he 
prepared back of the present M. E. 
parsonage, and later set out an orchard 
on Spencer road place. 



— If— 



Hiram West lived in a boase which 
he built opposite to where Jerome 
Alderman lived later on. 

Josiah (2) lived in the house where 
S'Ir. Roe now lives;; and later in a 
house where Capt. Newell P. Flock- 
wood now lives, just so-uth of the 
ereek which runs thro' the villatje. He 
also lived a^ Conklin, N. Y., a few 
years and after Wiliiatn (1). removed 
to Wisconsin, he lived with Josiah (1) 
at the focrt. of Cherry Ridiie Hill. 

Miles Smith, a brother of Mary 
Smith, whom William West married 
eame to the Creek in 1818 and bouijht 
tile place now owned by Mrs. Harriet 
('Hayes) Boardman and Libbie Hayes. 
BAPTIST CHURCH AT CASTL,E CREEK. 

In the year ISIS, through the labors 
of Hev. John Lawton, a Home Mis- 
sionary, a Baptist Church was orj»an- 
ized near the present villatre of Castle 
Creek, N. Y. The constituent mem- 
bers were Rev. Caleb Hayes, Mrs. 
Anna Hayes. Deacon Benedi'^t 
Eldridge, Mrs. Khoda Eldrid2:e, Lewis 
Stouyhton, James Remmele, Mrs. 
Lydia Loorais. Deacon Richard Gray, 
Mrs. Sally Gray, Orlando Parsons 
and Mrs. Orlando Parsons. Rev. 
Caleb Hayes was called to be their 
pastor and this position he held for 
twenty-six years, livintr with them, but 
preachint^ a part of the time in the 
school houses within a circuit of ten 
or fifteen miles. He was both preach- 
er and farmer. At the age of 78 he 
was feeling physically unable to 
farther continue his arduous labors 
and he therefore requested the officers 
of tfhe church to call to the held a 
younger man. During his pastorate 
of twenty-six years there were addi- 
tions to the church by letter and bap- 
tism, from time to time. Among the 
earlier additions were, Daniel Bishop 
and wife, Mrs. Hannah Bishop, Lewis 
Eldridge, Mrs. Bradley (Sarah) 
Alderman, Mrs. Harriet Gray, Lewis 
D. Bishop and others of whose names 
we have no record. It is supposed 
that up to this time services were held 
mainly in school houses and dwellings, 
at least up to 1841, when the Presby- 
terian church was completed. It is 
recorded that the Baptist society held 
meetings there until their own edifice 
was erected. 

The society was first called the Che- 
nango Baptist, then "Third Lisle," 



then ""Barker Church.'''' then ''ETarker 
and Chenango," and now the "Castlt? 
Creek Church.' ' 

The minutes of the Baptist Associa- 
tion thus read-.. "On Sept. 22d, 182-1:^ 
Che Chenango Church met with seven? 
other churches and organized the^ 
'•Berkshire Haptist Association,"' 
which name it retained until 1887.,. 
when it was changed to what is now 
"The Broome and Tioga Association. "' 

Tlje ti)'St "Meeting House" was- 
erected at the Village of Castle Creek, 
in 18-14r, and Rev. John Van Horn was- 
called to the pastorate, which position 
he held until about 184.8, when he was 
succeeded by Rev, K. L. Benedict. la 
1840 the first parsonage was built. In 
18.S4 Rev, David Leach was pastor and 
during his pastorate of six years the 
church was blessed with a gloriouS' 
revival and many were added to the 
(.-hurch. Rev. Ransom A. Washburne 
was pastor until 18(>1, when he enlisted 
as chaplain in the war of 'til. Rev. 
A.J. Chaplin was pastor for a period, 
which terminated in 18(>7. Mrs. Chap- 
lin was instrumental in organizing the 
"Ladies Aid Society," which still con- 
tinues a useful auxiliary to the church. 
In 1867 Rev. J. A. 'Ball became 
pastor. In the winter of i8ti9 Rev. K. 
A. Francis assisted in a. series of re- 
vival meetings, during which sixteen 
persons professed conversion and were 
added to the church. 

On March 2d while the meeting* 
were still in progress, the church edi- 
fice was burned, but the members with 
true christian zeal, commenced the 
work of re-building and in one year 
from that time, a neat and commodi- 
ous house, .fVcc of de/>^, was dedicated 
to the service of God. While the new 
building was in process of erection, 
Rev. A. P. Merrill, of Union, N. Y., 
came there three Sabbaths each month 
and conducted services in the hall 
over James Bristol's store. His labors 
were prompted by love of the work and 
were very acceptable to the society, 
altho' at this time the church could 
give him but small remuneration. He 
continued pastor until 1874, residing- 
here after the first year. 

E^or the next four years. Rev. A. 
Lull, D. D., was pastor and was loved 
and respected by all. He was succeed- 
ed by Rev. W. L. Good speed, who 
remained two years. Rev. J. W. 



—IB- 



Starkweather next came and remained 
until ]S82. Next was Rev. C. H. 
Moxie, who was succeeded by Rev. G. 
P. Turnbul, who remained four years. 
Durino- the last year of his pastorate 
revival meetings were held in the 
"Rink" by members of the "Salva- 
tion Army," resulting- in the conver- 
sion of quite a number, who were 
added to the church. Mr. Turnbul 
soo'n thereafter resigned his pastorate 
and Rev. A. M. Cole was called July 
1, 1887, who remained for five years. 
His departure was regretted by all. 
During his pastorate the parsonage 
was remodelled. For two or three 
years following, Rev. J. W. Cole was 
pastor. His successor was Rev. 
George Pope, who is the present pas- 
tor. 

A new barn replaced the old one, on 
the parsonage lot, in 1900. The church 
of 1903 is in a prosperous condition, 
considering that its membership has 
been greatly reduced within the past 
fifteen years, or so, by the death of 
many esteemed and useful members, 
mo8t of whom were well advanced in 
years, gone from the church militant 
to join the church triumphant in 
Heaven. Among these were. Deacon 
Apollos N. Phelps, Nathaniel Cong- 
don, Deacon Alonzo Swift, Mrs. Sarah 
Alderman. Walter Cary and wife, and 
their two daugliters. A large number 
have from time to time, removed to 
other localities. 

Deacons elected: In 1818, Benedict 
Eldridge and Richard Gray. In 1845, 
Lewis D. Bishop. In 1853, Michael 
Smithers. In 1866, Alonzo Swift and 
Ambrose Gray. In 1879, Apollos N. 
Phelps. In 1894. Talcott Alderman. 
Lewis D. Bishop held the office of 
deacon until his removal to Newark 
Valley, N. Y., in 1861. He assisted 
in building both the Baptist and Pres- 
byterian church edifices. 

Returning to the meeting of the As- 
sociation in 1824, a total membership 
of 489 members were then reported, in 
eight churches. In 1897 the total mem- 
bership was stated to be 4678. In 1824 
Deacon John Congdon was a "mes- 
senger" from the Chenango Baptist 
church. In these modern days the, 
are called "delegates." At that time 
a "confession of faith, and a platform 
was adopted, which gave no uncertain 
sound, showing that they were men 



who had beliefs founded on the word 
of God alone, and having no sympa- 
thy with the more modern idea that it 
makes no difference what a person be- 
lieves, provided he be sincere." It is 
to be regretted that we have no record 
of those ministers who sometimes offici- 
ated in the absence of a settled pastor. 
Elder Cyrus Gates of Maine, N. Y., 
was frequently called to assist in re- 
vival services; also to conduct funeral 
services, etc. It is stated that Elder 
Benedict first preached from the text, 
"I ask therefore for what intent ye 
have sent for me." The shortest 
prayer of which I have record, made 
by any pastor of this church, was that 
of Elder Washburne, who at the close 
of some special church meeting, arose 
and prayed thus: "O Loixl make us 
all just right — Amen." 

* 

The material for this sketch, imper- 
fect as it is, was furnished by Mrs. 
Caleb (West) Hayes, Jr., now Mrs. 
Harriet Boardman, and Mrs. Juliaette 
(Alderman) Rockwood, residents of 
Castle Creek. 

I am sure the latter named will par- 
don me, if I here quote from her letter. 
"I can recollect a goodly number of 
those earlier members, many of whom 
were laid away in the old cemetery, 
just back of the church, others in the 
new cemetery on the hill, east of the 
village, and yet others in divers 
places, far and near. There were 
Rev. Caleb Hayes and wife. Rev. 
David Leach and wife, and then the 
venerable, white haired Lewis Stough- 
ton, — "old father Stoughton" — he was 
called, and Lewis Eldridge; he was 
then lame and very old. Deacon Rich- 
ard Gray and wife, and good old 
Uncle Daniel Bishop and wife Hannah. 
I hope to meet th^^m all again, in the 
"sweet bye and bye." It is a precious 
thought, my dear mother, just as she 
was leaving her loved ones, asked me 
to sing to her, "In the sweet bye and 
bye we shall meet on that beautiful 
shore." 

In the early days horses and wagons 
were few and far between, and people 
went to "meeting" largely riding after 
ox teams and carts, or on foot, "where 
there is a will there is a way," and 
they were glad to go any way, any 
distance, and meet in school houses, 
or more often in log houses or barns. 



-14- 



We, of the present day, can never 
realize what our dear parents and old 
time neighbors underwent in this 
wilderness land and I often feet we do 
not fully appreciate our comparatively 
golden priviles'es of the present time, 
nor are we half thankful enough, that 
we were born and reared under their 
wise christian teaching and guidance. 
They are gone, yet they left behind 
them a noble example of fortitude, 
firmness and christian character, a 
heritage which we should most dearly 
prize. "These early toilers in the 
Master's Vineyard," one and all. who 
have passed to their reward— will not 
they oft' recall their privations and 
struggles in this Geld? And will not 
this recollection add greatly to their 
joys in the "Celestial City ? " "'Bless- 
ed are the dead, who die in the Lord." 

THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH AT CAS- 
TLE CREEK. 

Mr. Julius W. Lilly, Chicago, III. 

My Dear Cousin^^You ask if I 
can send some items periaining to the 
history of the Presbyterian church of 
Castle Creek V Yes, I can, perhaps 
with greater accuracy than any other 
one, because before me lies the only 
record book of its session, with the 
autograph of all its clerks signed to 
their minutes of official doing. Does 
any one wonder how this book came 
to be so far from home? The answer 
is very simple; after the death of my 
father. Orsamus Lilly, many of his 
old letters and papers were given to 
me and among them was this church 
record. The communion set bought 
by the godly women of the church was 
early sent to Albany, Kansas, to the 
church which received several of its 
members from the old hive. When 
the Albany church outgrew the set, it 
was sent still farther west to serve a 
missionary church just starting. Of 
all the names ever recorded on the 
church roll, who were not dismissed 
by letter, is there one now living ex- 
cept my mother, Mrs. Almira B = 
Lilly? If there is, who is it? Sever- 
al who were once members are alive 
but those I know have had letters to 
other churches or places. A goodly 
number of the Presbyterian families 
attended the First Presbyterian church 
at Binghamton, N. Y., an eight mile 
journey. Would not the present gen- 



eration think It quite an undertaking' 
to attend services at such long range y 
In 1S32, Or.^amus Lilly, Henry Lilly 
and Arunah Hall were elders in that- 
ch urch. 

It is nearly seventy years since the- 
record began by saying that applica-- 
tion was made to the presbytery of 
Tioga for the arganizatitjn of certain 
members of the First church of the- 
town of Chenango, into a new church 
on Castle Creek, and a committee was- 
a|>p<>inted to organize the church. 

This committee was the pa^^tor of 
the Binyhamton Presbyterian churchy 
lley. L. D. Howell and Kev. Gould, 
"Agreeably to the appointment, the 
committee of Presbytery attended, at- 
11 o'clock A. M., on Tuesday, Dec. 3d. 
1!S33, in the school house near Arunah 
Hall's (the old plank hou.'^e across 
from the big elm. ) I,^ev. L. D. Howell 
preached from the text, "Quit you like 
men." A certificate of dismission front 
First church of the town of Chenangi^ 
was presented by the followipo- named 
persons: I-*Eunice Lilly, 2-*Deb()rah 
Lilly, .Jr.. 3-*Reuben Lilly, -l-^Sally 
Lilly, 5-*EJannah Lilly , ii-*Arunah Hail 
Lilly, 7*-Hcnry Lilly. 8-Anna Lilly ^ 
li-*.IonathaD Lilly, lO'-Foster Lilly. S'r. 
11-Deborah Lilly, 8r., 12-*Orsamus 
Lilly, 13-Louisa Lilly, 14-William 
West, 15-Rachel West, IG-Harriet 
West, I7-.Josiah West. . IS-Orlando 
West,19-CarolineCary,20-LauraCarv, 
21-Polly West Parker, 22--Charles F. 
Holmes, 23-John Milton Dimmiek, 2-1— 
Anna Dimmiek, 25-Mary B. Dimmiek, 
2(5-'Fanny (Stowell) Dimmiek. 27-Eliz- 
abeth M. Dimmiek, 2i-Smith Spencer, 
2»- Arunah Hall, 30-Achsah (Lyon) 
Elall, 31"David L. Hall, 32-Sally M. 
Hall, 33-Tidall Knapp, 34- Abigail 
P. Carter. 35- Esther .J. Carter, 36- 
Russell Wilcox, .3T-Chloe Wilcox, 38- 
.John W. Wilcox. 39-Anna Wilcox, 
40-Alexander White, 41-Margaret 
f^eonard, 42-Parley Lee, 43-Maria Lee, 
44-Amanda Stowell. Amanda Dim- 
miek, Orin Wilcox and William Wil- 
cox joined soon after. 
* * 
* 

First otiicers: Deacons, .Tosiah 
West, Arunah Hall; Eldei-s, -Josiah 

*ChiIdreD of Foster und Deborah (Hall) Lilly. 
Six sons, three daughters and two daughters- 
in-law: thirteen members of one family. The 
eldest son. Alvah, was at that date a Presby- 
terian minister. 



-lo- 



west, William West, Orsamiis Lilly. 
Heory Lilly, Anioah Hall: Tfustees, 
.lohGiM. Dimtiiick, Foster Lilly. Alex- 
ander White. 

•H- * 
* 

Officers were then examined, ordain- 
ed and '"set apar-t by prayer' and 
services closed by an exhortation suit- 
ed to the occasion." -^ - 

''Before the congregation disper.>5t?d 
it was resolved by the session to take 
immediate steps for obtaining- the 
labors of a minister and for that pur- 
pose a subscri[iti()i) paper w?is siLjned 
with much liberality, botjii by members 
of the new church and by brr-theren 
from Binyharaton. who were prLS^-nt." 
In the spring' of 1833. R.^v. F. Jauns 
and Woodruff preached occasion- 
ally in the Lilly districf. school house 
and soon after Rev. Petei* Lockwood 
of Binyhaajt(;n officiated at the same 
l)lace. 

The officers of the new church must 
have been very jjrorapt, as in about a 
month they had secured a minister, as 
N^e know by a diary kept,hy .Mrs. (Jrsa- 
raus (Louisa) Lilly, which reads, 
•-.fan. 12. 183-1, Rainy day: Rev. F'. 
.Tane^ beL'an preacliing at upper school 
bouse. Morniny: sermon from text, 
'Who is on the Lord's sideV ' Tn 
afiei-noon from Romans 315. All the 
family attended. " 

About 1836. Rev. Mr. Burt vvas pas- 
tor for a short time and Rev. Marcus 
Ford of Binghamton, preached for 
some time in the lower school house. 
Services were held perhaps alternate- 
ly at either school house but official 
business seems to have been done in 
the lower school house, as Oct. 27, 
1838, (we copy) "Made choice of Sam- 
uel Mills, William West, and David 
Ingersoll as a committee to say where 
in their judgment a meeting house 
ought to be built for the best good of 
the church and society in this place." 
Said committee decided ''that it is the 
best place on the south-east corner of 
William West's land." This meeting 
was "at the school hou&e at Mr. 
Lilly's and adjourned to meet at tiae 
school house by Mr. West's." This 
was near the site where the church was 
to be built, where it still stands. This 
report was adopted and a subscription 
paper was started to raise funds to 
build, in 1839. The building commit- 
tee were William West, Samuel Mills 



and .Tonathau Lilly. At this same 
lueeting, "a committee was appointed 
to issue. a subscription paper for ai 
singiuii- school at the school house by 
Deac(j.Q West's and to hire and pan 
for a teacher. This committee was 
Sylvester Mills, Orlando West, and 
David L. Hall." We wonder whom 
they hired? Chui-ch music received 
much attention, and tradition says the 
muf^ic at the dedication," about two 
years later was well worth hearing. 
The tunes were pitched by a tuning 
fork and very early a bass viol was 
used in the clioir. Did George Bowen 
olay on it for a time? Cornelia Nash, 
Laura Oary, Lucy Lilly, Amanda 
Mills and Mer.-y Dimmick were in that 
choir, -while some of the male singers 
were Orlando West, Charles F. 
Holmes, David L. Hall and Alexander 
Wliit'--. Choir rehearsals were mostly 
at private houses and when at the 
school house, each singer took a can- 
dle, which WHS placed in a tin holder 
run into the planks. The new church 
grew slowly: it was a big undertaking, 
and 1 think the '"old chapel" was for 
a time the only other church building 
between Binghamton and Whitney's 
Point. Many of the subscriptions 
were in work and more in lumber, but 
'"the people had a mind to work" and 
at last it was ready. Just the date is 
not given, but it was probably about 
1841. Rev. S. W. Leonard vvas now 
pastor, and it is said that Rev. D. D. 
Gregory preached the sermon. Sun- 
day Schools had been maintained each 
summer, resting in the winter. The 
modern church reverses the order. 
There were always two long sermons, 
one in the morning then Sunday 
School and a chance to eat a cold 
lunch, then a long afterco(jn service. 
Sometimes the devout women of the 
church held a "private" prayer meet- 
ing in the session room over the hall, 
then slipped around to see Mrs. Mills 
or Mrs. Deacon West and get a piece 
of pie and cup of tea, but as a rule 
only a few cookies for the children 
were taken. • > • 

In the year 1845 the great west be- 
gan to attract settlers from Castle 
Creek and for a few years the western 
fever was epidemic and took off a 
large number of the members of the 
Presbyterian church. .Just before this 
several active members had left to join 



—16- 



the Baptist church, aruonjr them Wil- 
liam VVest and his family and in 184(> 
they removed to Wijiconsin, as did 
Henry and Reuben l^illy and their 
families. The Lees, Wilcox and other 
families to Illinois. The Eber, Hiram 
and Festus Dennison and families, 
Harvey and Daniel Mills and families, 
the Carys and others went to Miehig:an 
and in all about forty persons went 
west about this time. A further loss 
occurred in the death of Samuel Mills, 
an esteemed and faithful officer as 
long- as he lived. The last resident 
pastor was Rev. Joseph Davidson, 
who had been pastor for some time. 
He lived in the house where John Cun- 
ningham lived and died. Owing to 
the reduced membership, services could 
be maintained only part of the time, 
and Rev. Powell of Chenango Forks, 
supplied the pulpit. He was a man of 
grreat spiritual fervor and I do not 
think [ ever listened to more solemn 
exhortations. Rev. William T. 
Doubleday. now a resident of Biug- 
hamton, was on the Doubleday farm 
about lf^50, for the benefit of his 
health. Some of his New York friends 
came there to summer with him. The 
prayer meetings he held in the old 
plank school house are still remem- 
bered and were a blessing to all who 
attended them. 

The Baptists held meetings in the 
Presbyterian edifice, while their church 
was being- built, and soon the Metho- 
dists made arrangements to occupy 
the pulpit one-half the time. When it 
was built most of the heads of families 
had a pew which they bought, not 
rented, and these seats they occupied, 
no matter who preached. The church 
never rallied, as the west still called 
for its young poeple and for some 
years the only preaching was once a 
"month, first by Rev. Peter Lockwood, 
of Binghamton, and later by Rev. 
Harvey Smith, of Maine. N. Y. The 
only clerks that kept the record for 
thirty years were William West, Henry 
Lilly, Arunah Hall and David J. 
St-iles. Simeon Stiles. .John Conrad, 
Noah Bowker, Thaddeus Seely with 
their families were valuable members 
for a time and the history would be 
very incomplete without a mention of 
Mrs. Fanny Dimmick, who could truly 
say. "I love thy house. O God," for a 
more faithful or regular member never 



was enrolled. The last entry in the 
book was dated Jan. 1861, and was a 
letter of dismission to the church in 
Albany, Kansas, of Achsah L. Lilly. 
A few months later, the clerk. David 
J. Stiles enlisted for service in the 
Civil War and never returned. He 
knew in whom he trusted and his re- 
ward was sure! Rev. Peter Lockwood 
often selected as his Scripture lesson, 
'•Fear not little flock, it is your Fa- 
ther's good pleasure to give you the 
kingdom." and it used to seem untrue, 
but later I learned that Christ himself 
said, '"My kingdom is not of this 
world." 

So let us l^ave the history of the 
extinct church which existed a genera- 
tion, until the time when all the 
I'ecords are finii-hed, at the end of 
time, for only then can its influence be 
measured. To most of them already 
we hope the welcome from their 
Savior has been. ''Well done good 
and faithful servant " 

Achsah Lilly Slosson. 

Houston. Texas, 1903. 

THE LILLY DISTRICT METHODIST 
PIONEER CHAPEL. 

As early as 1833 a Methodist Chapel 
was built on the present grave yard 
lot, just north of the Amos Wilcox 
farm house. This was the very first 
church structure on the Creek, and 
some of those who attended there were 
the Hawkes. French, Dunham, Paa-e, 
St. John, Liverraore, Elwell, Lee, and 
Austin families. Tyrus Page was for 
many years the class leader. Some 
of the early officiating ministers were 
Larnard Livermore, Charles Pitts. 
Chester Pease, Elders King, Elwell 
and Burlingame. Asa Brooks, father 
of Frank Brooks and Mrs. Delia 
l^rooks French, third wife of Ira 
French: Rev. P. S. Worden, who for 
many yeai's resided in Binghamton 
and recently died there at a good old 
age; and Rev. Enos Puffer, a brother 
of Moses Puffer, the blacksmith. He 
was licensed to preach about 1841, and 
wji,s appointed on the "Old Broome 
Circuit" in 1845. From that time un- 
til his death in 1872, he was constantly 
stationed in that immediate vicinity. 
He was a member of the Legislature 
in 1857. He was a very earnest, ener- 
getic and forceful preacher and withal 
a "mighty hunter." He and Dr. Carr 



—11 



constituted many a hunting: party of 
two I About isr)0 the "class" was 
<iivided and the chapel was taken 
down and rebuilt at Glen Castle, some 
two miles southwai'd. Daniel Lee 
helped build this chapel and also 
helped move and rebuild it. Those 
who lived north of the old site, then 
attended services at Castle Creek. 

THE CASTLE CREEK METHODIST 
EPISCOPAL SOCIETY. 

It is to be regrretted tbat the earliest 
records of this society cannot be 
found, and as a consequence, cannot 
here be recorded. The best that can 
be done, will be very imperfect. The 
earliest date recorded, appears to 
have been 1843, when "Classes" had 
been formed — one at Castle Creek, one 
Barker, ( probably Hyde Settlement) 
others at Adams Street, Poplar Ridg-e 
and various other localities, unknown 
to the narrator. The earliest record 
which can be found, states that "The 
first Quarterly meeting- for Broome 
Circuit" was held at the chapel in 
Barker, N. Y., Oct. 28, 184.S. The 
Rev. V. M. Coryell was the Presiding 
Elder. Members present— Enos Putfer, 
Preacher in Charge; Larnard Liver- 
more, Local Preacher; Henry Pease, 
Lambert Seward and John Stonghton, 
Exhorters; Stephen Foote, William 
Hamblin, William Hall and John 
Stoughton, Leaders. We will suppose 
that the "Leaders" were those who 
were appointed to lead the meeting-s of 
the various Classes, and we also sup- 
pose that these Quarterly meeting's 
were attended by the members and 
others in unusual numbers. 

Stewards were appointed at this 
meeting- and appointment made for the 
next Quarterly meeting to be held at 
the Chapel, Castle Creek." We sup- 
pose this referred to the one in the 
Lilly district, as that was then the 
only one on the Creek. These various 
"classes" were united under what at 
that time wascalled," Broome Circuit." 
Enos Puffer is the first "Pi-eacher in 
Charge" mentioned in the book of 
records, and Larnard Livermore first 
"Local Preacher," but there certainly 
must have been others who were earli- 
er. Rev. Charles Pitts and Rev. 

Burlingame were early preachers, and 
Solon and Servillus Stocking, the 



latter two probably of Binghamton. 
Chenango P'orks and probably Kattel- 
ville were at one time included in this 
Circuit. The Preacher in Charge went 
from place to place, wherever there 
were classes, to preach. Enos Putt'er 
was Preacher in Charge 1843 to 1845. 
He was succeeded by King Elwell; then 
Enos Puffer was Local Preacher. 
Then Rev. Thomas D. Wire in 1847 
was Preacher in Charge. 

We now find recorded that "pursu- 
ant to public notice give as the Statute 
requires, a meeting of the male mem- 
bers of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church of due and lawful age, was 
held in the Presbyterian Church at 
Castle Creek, N. Y., August 30, 1847, 
for the purpose of organizing a cor- 
porate Religious Society. Rev. 
Thonaas D. Wire called the meeting to 
order, and opened by prayer. Rev. 
Thomas D. Wire and Samuel Hawkes 
were chosen to preside over the meet- 
ing. It was voted that this Society 
shall be called "The E'irst Methodist 
Episcopal Church of Castle Creek. 
Voted that this church shall have six 
trustees and the following named per- 
sons were duly elected: Enos Puffer, 
Edson Blair, Isaac Bowen, Isaac 
Livermore, Lorenzo Brooks and Sam- 
uel Hawkes. The meeting then ad- 
journed until August 30, 1848." The 
records are not in such shape that we 
can now record irho the original mem- 
bers of this orginization were. Accord- 
ing to the best judgnaent of the com- 
piler, sojHe of these were as follows: 
Rev. Larnard Livermore, Isaac Liver- 
more, Chauncey Livermore, Martha 
Livermore, George Bowen, Mrs. 
Margaret Bowen, Isaac Bowen, Sam- 
uel Hawkes, Mrs. Robie Hawkes, 
Nelson Dunham, Mrs. Nancy Dunham, 
Hannah Livermore, Abigail Bishop, 
Israel P. Alderman, Mrs. Caroline 
Alderman, S. Abigail Alderman, 
Bradley Jerome Alderman, Mrs. Ma- 
rinda Alderman, James Gaylord, Mrs. 
Sabrina Gaylord, Edson Blair, Mrs. 
Caroline (Pease) Blair, Alex. White, 
Mrs. Margaret White, Tyrus Page, 
Mrs. Fanny Page and Chester Pease. 
In the Record names are divided off 
into classes; Castle Creek Class, Hyde 
Street Class, East Hill Class, etc., and 
again, these records were revised from 
time to time, and many had died and 
i-emoved to other places, which renders 



—18- 



it impossible to determine just which 
ODBs were original members. 

The first parsonage was built about 
1848. In 1849 R. S. Rose was Pastor 
in Charge and J. Whitham in 1851. 
In 1852, R. Ingalls. with H. T. Avery 
as .Junior Preacher. In 1853-4, .1. M. 
Grimes; William Silsbee, '55; A. C. 
Sperry, '57: William Round, '59: 
George A. Severson, '61: C. E. Tavlor 
'62: E. Siblee, '64; W. B. Thomas,-'66; 
A. W. Loomis, '68: N. S. DeWitt, '71; 
C. V. Arnold, '73: T. Burgess, '76: 
George A. Place,' '78; D. Personeus, 
'81; W. R. Cochrane, '84; T. R. War- 
nook, '87; V. A. Bailey, '90, who died 
soon after coming; C. Ef. Newing, '91: 
H. G. Blair, '93: C. M. Olmstead, '95: 
C. D. Shepard. "99; and S. E. Hunt, 
the present pastor, 1901. 

In 1868 the present edifice was erect- 
ed on the site of the old one.* and 
dedicated free of debt. Rev. J. M . 
Grimes and his good wife are well 
remembered by many, as during the 
winter he was pastor a glorious re- 
vival occurred, resulting in the con- 
version of many young people as wkII 
as many heads of families, most of 
whom, if not all, continued faithful to 
the church and to their God — some 
have gone hither "to mansions in the 
skies," others still living here and 
elsewhere. In the early years of the 
Society, two ministers were often ap- 
pointed, perhaps owing to so tuany 
scattered appointments in the vicinity, 
but usually only one was resident. In 
the early history of the M. E. church, 
here, it labored under the same dis- 
advantages as do all churches in a 
new country, l)ut God blessed it 
abundantly. Would that we of to-day 
might see the wondrous revivals and 
conversions which occurred in the 
former days. It would seen to be the 
case, that, there is not now one-half 
the spiritual life in the churches, there 
was 50 years ago." 

And here our brief and imperfect 
sketch endeth with regrets that a more 
able historian had not, many years 
ago, had the earlier records and put 

*NoTE,— Some time before the Presbyterians 
ceased to hold services, the two societies 
arraQKed that e;ich stiould occupy the edifice 
one-half the time and wtien the Presbyterians 
no longer held a/n/ meetinRs. it became the M. 
E. Church, perhaps as a "hericage" from its 
sister society. 



thern into print, or at least preserved 
them, for future use — even the present 
time. And wishing the church great 
prosperity and success in winning 
many souls unto Christ, we will say — 
adieu I 

CLOSING EXERCISES OF SCHOOL IN 
DISTRICT NO. 15, ( CASTLE CREEK. ) 



(Copied from the ■■Standard" Binghamton. 

N Y.) 

3Ir. Editor: 

"As your pa[)er is somewhat devoted 
to educational interests, we wish to 
report the closing exercises of the 
school in Lilly district, near Castle 
Creek, which occurred April 7, 1857. 
The examination, by the teacher. Miss 
Achsah L. Lilly, was a thorough one 
and the ready replies of her pupils 
gave evidencie that they were at home 
in their studies. We have not space 
to particularize — all were good-^but 
the class in history deserve special 
mention for their thorough knowledge 
of dates, as well as incidents and facts 
connected with the early history of 
'Giant Occident,' 

Classes were heard in geography, 
arithmetic, grammar, etc., nor was 
reading neglected. And just here we 
wish to say that most of the scholars 
were good readers: indeed, we did not 
discover a hud reader in the school. 
At the close of the examination, which 
occupied the forenoon and part of the 
afternoon, we were treated with an 
intellectual repast, in the way of 
declamation, colloquies and composi- 
tions, the whole interspersed with ap- 
propriate and withal, excellent sing- 
ing. Thouoh unused to public speak- 
inir. the lads acquitted themselves 
nobly. The older ones were not be- 
hind. 

Several young ladies who took part 
in the colloquies, we would commend 
for speaking very distinctly. 'Mrs. 
Caudle' gave the old gentleman a 
very handsome curtain lecture. The 
'Garland,' read by Misses Fr nch 
and Gary, contained many good things. 
Some of the articles were quite poeti- 
cal. We hope the lost will ere long be 
found. Afier brief remarks by Lyman 
B. Smith and L. R. Elliott, the com- 
pany reluctantly sought their homes, 
well pleased with their entertainment. 
Bright eyes, which shall, ere long. 



-19- 



gfow dlin with ag'e, will look back 
upon that day as an oasis in the 
desei-t of life. Such aatherinos 
sti'eng-then the ties of friendsliip, and 
<inc()Ui"a^es both teacher and scliolars. 
Let us have more of them, even in the 
country." '*One FUESENT." 

Note 1 — This was doubtless written 
by Mr. Elliott, who some time ago 
passed away, at his home in Kansas. 
He was a v-^ry worthy and useful citi- 
zen. He was much interested in Sun- 
day School work. 

Note 2— That history clsss was the 
pride of the teacher's heart and at the 
close of the examination, when the 
last expected question was answered, 
sbe asked one they were not lookini^- 
for. She had asked "who was just 
inaugurated prt^sident I'' Answer — 
"James Buchanan, who was elected 
last November Over John C. Fremont." 
As she closed the book, she asked, 
"Who will be the next president':"' 
Instantly came the answer — '"John C. 
Fremont," and the audience cheered. 
This ritiows the sentiment of the dis- 
trict in regard to the young, defeated, 
Republican party, which did elect the 
next president— Abraham Lincoln, and 
his successors for many years, but 
who would then have dared prophecy 
the sad events so soon to imperii our 
beloved country'? "The veil that 
hides the future is woven by mercy's 
hand." 

As far as memory goes, this is the 
roster of that famous history class: 

Francis M., Mary, Ellen and Cle- 
ment French, Alonzo and Martha 
White, Libbie and Jennie Gary, Etta 
Alderman, DeEtte Smith, Edwin Lee, 
Francis M. and Lucius Bishop. Or- 
lando St. John, Emery, Eunice, Lewis 
and Julius W. Lilly. 

How many still live to make history 
and how many have passed on? 

Most all the ••girls" have borne 
other names for many years. 



From the Binghamton BcpubUmn. 
"Castle Creek. — From an inhabitant 
of this place, we learn that the school 
in the Lilly district, taught by Miss 
Achsah L. Lilly, closed March 6, 1858. 
The report of the exercises, which in- 
cluded compositions, declamations, 



colloquies, etc., is very flattering, and 
shows conclusively the advantage of 
competent and experienced instructors 
in our country schools, over raw and 
incompetent tyros. We congratulate 
Miss Lilly on her success." — Editor's 
Eduaiiion(d Department. 

FROM ALSON CONGDON, SON OF NA- 
THANIEL. 

Long Beach, Cal,, Aug. 15, 1903. 

/. W. Lilly — Bear Sir: 

Being a subscriber to the Reporter, 
I have read your "Annals" and have 
been much interested in them. I have 
known your whole family from your 
grandfather down to yourself. 1 re- 
member when you were born. It is 
said that I was born th^ same day 
your Uncle Henry's oldest daughter 
was. If so, I don't remember it. I 
have heard all three of your uncles 
preach. I was present when Orsamus 
Lilly was married to Almira Brigham. 
Regarding our family, I cannot tell 
you much of the ancient history, but 
will give you what I can from memory. 

John Congdon was born in Vermont 
in 1767. He lived there for a long 
time, having a family of seven sons 
and five daughters. After his older 
children had mai-ried, they all remov- 
ed to Silver Lake, Pa., on to the Dr. 
Rose place. After I'emaining there a 
few years, they removed to Bingham- 
ton. A few years after. John, Sr., 
removed to the Whitney-Conklin farm, 
some two miles northward. He was 
on that place during the memorable 
"cold year" of 1816. This is the only 
date which I have, of his early -migra- 
tions. He removed from thence, to 
what is now Glen Castle, down by the 
French mills, and from thence to Dim- 
mick Hill, where he bargained for 
land which his son, Nathaniel, owned, 
later on. John's sons, Joseph. Ezra, 
and John, Jr., also went up there and 
purchased land, and made some im- 
provements, but soon sold out and 
returned to Binghamton, where they 
resided for the balance of their lives. 
John Sr.. died Sept. 13, 18-49, aged 82 
years. Himself and wife were both 
buried on his farm. The names of 
other early settlers of Dimmick Hill 
and vicinity, as I recollect them, were 
as follows: Nathan Pratt, Hiram 
West, Bethuel Brooks, Samuel and 



-20— 



Jonas Brooks, David, James and 
Reuben Eaton, John and Sylvanus 
Dimmick, Seth Stowell, Mr. Carter,. 
Nathan Stratton, Linus Smith, Parley 
l^ee, *John Wilcox, Newell Bancroft, 
Eli Elwell. Mr. Lamoreaux, Lent 
Johnson, Mr. Gibson. All of the 
above named were there upwards of TO 
\ ears ago. 

Later comers, nearly in the order 
mentioned were as follows; Samuel 
•hidd, Mr. Taber, Mr. Wheeler, Mr. 
Matteson, Calvin Shepard, Sylvester ■ 
St. John, Perce Elwell, Sylvanus Judd, 
Albert. Judson and Boswell West. 
Milo Isbell, Thomas French, Jr., 
Peter Hillicus, .John Payne, Levi 
Winfield, Mr. Webb, Wynus, John 
and Joseph Conrad, Jesse Heller, 
Isaac Battfs, Horace Treadwell, 
Thadeus Seeley, Nearly all these 
lived about there, over 50 years ago. 

The first teacher which I had was 
Miss Phoebe Lamoreaux. who married 
F'^ranklin French. Other teachers were 
Rachel West, Sylvia Thomas, Mary 
Johnson, Harriet Stratton, Amanda 
OimmiL-k and Alonzo Freeman. This 
finished my school days at the old 
pioneer log school house. My next 
schooling- was in the new district, 
called the log cabin. Some of the 
teachers were Jane Temple, Eunice 
Temple, Triphena Dow, .lulia Judd, 
Martha West, Cornelia Nash. Alvira 
Dennison, Lucy Lilly and Harriet 
Bullock. In the new house at Dim- 
mick Hill— Cyrus Carter, Mr. Moxley, 
Alfred Pease. Laura Cary and Frank 
Brooks. I did not attend more than 
half of these schools. I fail to recall 
the names of other teachers of those 
olden days. 

I was born on the old Congdon 
farm, Diramick Hill, in Sept. 1827; 
lived on the same place until I was 35, 
then removed to Iowa, where I lived 
for 16 years: then removed to Kansas, 
where I staid for 21 years; spent one 
summer in Colorado, when I removed 
to my present abode. Long' Beach, 
Cal. (Los Angeles-co. ) In 1897, on 
account of failing health, I commenc- 
ed a search for the best place to live 
•tnd in my judgment this place is 
most excellent and 1 am satisfied here. 
If you can make use of this informa- 
tion, you are very welcome to it. 

Yours truly, ALSON CONGDON. 

■;--Now UviQR at St Charles--, III, in his 94thyear. 



Some Former Preachers. 

REV. BETHUEL BROOKS 

used to preach on the "Broome Cir- 
cuit,''' which included nearly all of 
F3ro()rae-co. , and he had one appoint- 
mtiut in the old (first) Court House- 
He went on horseback and would be 
gone from home three weeks at a time, 
and as '""Uncle John*^' Brooks says,, 
"leave me to do the chores." He used 
to pi-each in the old building burned 
down in the Whitney's Point fire,, 
where the Post Oliice now stands. His. 
son used to hitch up the old roan 
horse and drive his father to the Point 
and hear him preach. 

Bethuel was obliged to leave his- 
wife, who was an invalid and unable- 
to walk for 35 years. From a spinal 
trouble, her limbs wasted so greatly, 
that her feet were like those of a two- 
year old child, or a Chinese Manda- 
rins' wi^'e. Her son made her shoes. 
The thirteen year old boy, who once 
went to Preston, N. Y., lo bring her 
sistei", a maiden lady, to help them> 
move, reached home again under diffi- 
culties. It was the finest of sleighing, 
when he set out to go on his journey, 
but on returning, the bridge at Che- 
nango Forks over the Tioughnioga 
was gone. Other delayed travellers 
were also here, at the hotel, consisting- 
of Amos Wilcox, with his bride and 
the bridal party, who were David Hall 
and lady and Obed Dimmiek and lady. 

They were all advised to hasten 
down to the "New Bridge," (Chenango 
Bridge) which they did. On coming 
to the bridge, the boy went ahead and 
the others followed, as quickly as 
possible, and none too quick, as 
-.vhen they were barely across, a cake 
of ice half a mile long, struck a pier 
and down the river went the bridge. 
It being winter the "tow path" was 
very icy and it was a perilous road. 
Had their conveyances slid a little too 
far in either direction, the chances 
were good tor being immersed in the 
water of the canal on the one side, or 
the river on the opposite side. 

Mr. Brooks formed the first M. E. 
Churches at Marathon, Yorkshire and 
Whitney's Point, and did a grand 
pioneer'work all along and around 
the wide circuits, yet he said in his 
later years— never having belonged to 
the "Conference," that he had always 



-21- 



been used as a "tog-yie for a chain." 
He died at liie aye of 8") at the home 
of his SOD, Lerov. at Maiue, N. Y. 

Of his tea ctiildren, all v\ere sLuyers; 
all but three were school leactiers, 
Frank holding a Stale Ceniticate, and 
three had licenses t'j preach. For all 
Mrs. Brooks was an invalid, she was 
a tine entertainer and all the children 
were crazy lo yo there and stay with 
grandma, for weeks at a time. One 
evening she was left alone with her 
granddaughter, Ellen, and thi^ir candle 
light went out. She said, "ril fix it 
for you," and sent FUeu around the 
bouse to tind a saucer of lard and 
some wicking, and told stories in the 
mean time, laughing till the tears ran 
down her cheeks. 

Chester Pease was a local |)reacher 
of the M. E. Church and he would 
make his appointments like this. "Jf 
there doesn't come a rrtfting freshet, 
I'll be here such a day." If there 
came a rafting freshet, he would have 
to be goiiKj down the river. It is related 
that he once said to Larnard Liver- 
more, '"Now Brother Livermore, you 
i<it dotcn and let me gab." 

JOHN REMMELEE. 

Another minister whose noble figure 
and forcible preaching will always be 
remembered by those who heard him, 
WHS -John Liemnielee, a local preacher, 
but associated with and mucti esteem- 
ed by Levi Fitts. Eaos Fuffer, Elder 
tii-imes, Elder Avery and Bro. Silsby. 
Mr. Cochrane preached his funeral 
sermon. 

Mr. Remmelee was a great friend of 
children, and a well known lady, who 
was often at his house when a little 
girl, stales that she never saw nor 
heard an\ thing inconsistent with his 
profession. He never preached for 
pay but took thankfully whatever was 
given him, which was considerable, as 
he had many friends. 

(Jraves Collins gave him a home 
vviih ten acres of land which, there 
being no writings, reverted to the 
family upon Mr. Collios's death. Mr. 
Remmelee always worked as a farmer 
and his work was well worth haviny-. 
He was very often called upon to 
preach at funerals. 

The older people living at Castle 
Creek, Glen Castle, Dunham Hill, 
Hogg Settlement, Swift Settlement, 



Hyde-st., King-st and Adams-st., will 
recollect Brother llemmelee's majiniti- 
cent tigure, loud voice and true re- 
ligion. 



There is a legend remaining, of a 
man in these parts being at work in 
the woods, chopping, one day, when 
three Indians suddenly appeared on 
the scene, and bade him go with them. 
He said, all right, he would do so as 
soon as he had jplit the log he was 
working on, and if they were in a 
hurry, they might help him. So he 
drove his wedge into the log and told 
them to put their hands into the break 
and help pull it open, ^fter they had 
done so, he struck the wedge just 
right and out it Hew and caught their 
tiutters like a vice, when he unflinch- 
ingly used his axe to cut off their 
heads. This, if true, would seem to 
have been a cruel mode of repaying 
their helpfulness, but as it prevented 
their killing pale faces, we must con- 
sider it as the act of a hero, as well 
as a great strategist. Can anybody 
tell us more about this tradition V 

During the cold year of 1816. al- 
ready mentioned, it is said that when 
Mrs. Clement French put up school 
dinners for her children, there was 
nothing to be had but johnny-cake 
and even that was scarce, and they 
remembered her crying over it many a 
time because she had no more for 
their lunches. 



orsamus and louisa lilly. 

Under the "Balm ofGilead's" } 
Old Homestead, Aug. 26, 1903. \ 

"Soon the places that now know us 
will know us no more forever: help us 
Lord so that when that time comes, we 
may go with joy and not with grief." 

This reflection and petition formed 
a part of the prayer that was daily 
oltered for more than one-half a cen- 
tury by Orsamus Lilly in the low 
house under the big Balm of Gilead 
trees beside the murmuring brook. 

This family altar was erected in 
1826, when he brought from Hawley, 
Mass., his slight young wife. Louisa 
Lilly. She had received advantages 
beyond many women of her day and 
was endowed with an active, cheerful, 
helpful nature and entered into pioneer 
life with zeal and enthusiasm. 



Her parents and family in Massa- 
chusetts were devout Methodists in 
the days before Methodism had lost 
its early fervor, and tho" with her 
husband, she joiued the Presbyterians 
she retained the stamp of girlhood so 
much that a Methodist sister once 
exclaimed, "Oh, Mrs. Lilly what a 
good Methodist you would have 
made I "' 

This new home soon beg'an to shel- 
ter the homeless, and Charles F. 
Holmes (now of Kaneville, Hi. ) at the 
age of nine was taken and treated as 
a son. This lad had been ill treated 
by the world and it required love and 
patience to make him the loving good 
man he became. An entry in the > oung 
wife's diary says, "1 am pra\ ing for 
help and patience to teach Charley 
right," but she had her reward. 

During the first year of married life 
thib young couple adopted Laura 
Cary, whose mother, Sally West 
Cary, had died leaving several chil- 
dren to the father, William Cary. Little 
Laura was only three years of age, a 
beautiful, fi ail child, whose childhood 
was saddened by su tiering and illness 
but she outgrew her afflictions, and 
became a faithful, loving woman, a 
comfort to all. Lucy ( later Mrs. New- 
ton Hand) was the first child born, 
under that has since echoed the first 
cry of so many. Next came a win- 
some littlemaid named Achsah Louisa, 
whose death by scarlet fever, at the 
age of three, was the first grief of the 
household, which often included many 
who needed a temporary home. Next 
year after this sorrow another daugh- 
ter was bora and given the name of 
the last one. She is now Mrs. William 
B. Slosson. Then came a delicate 
blue eyed boy, Emery Silas, now liv- 
ing in Sabetha, Kansas, where also 
lives the next daughter, named Eunice 
Amanda, now Mrs. Edmund F. Pug- 
sley. 

Never robust, the wife failed in 
health, and when her baby girl was 
two years old she cheerfully, trustfully 
went to her Savior, believing he would 
care for the children she had so faith- 
fully trained. She had taught even 
the little ones to go to the loving- 
Father foi- help in every time of need 
and none of them ever forgot it. Her 
last day heie was Sunday and she in- 



sisted that the older children go t(< 
church as usual. In the evening Dea- 
con Arunah Hall and wife and Deacon 
Samui-1 Mills and wife came in and 
with the family held a last prayer 
service. Then the children were put 
to bed to awaken motherless in the 
morning. The father then, as he said 
in later years, "tried to be Vjoth father 
and mother." The older children, 
Charles, Laura and Lucy were trusty 
and efficient, and the family life mov- 
ed on for a year and a half, when the 
father jjersuaded Almira Brigham, a 
Massachusetts young woman to help 
him carry the burden. She consented 
and nobly, faithfully did she do her 
l)art. 

They were married in the Presby- 
terian church by Rev. Foster Lilly, 
and the home received an efficient, 
cai)able head, who still lives where 
she came as a bride, Sept. 1843. A 
few years later T'ynthia Lilly Ralyea 
died and her son, Cyrus F.. was 
added to the mother's brood. In 184S 
a second son. Lyman Thomas, was 
gladly welcomed. He now lives at 
La .1 unta, Col. Florence Arvilla came 
next, a frail, beautiful child, who, in 
a little more than a year was taken 
away. The youngest daughter, Mar- 
tha Almira. (now Mrs. Henry M. 
Fuller,) came next and still reside in 
the old home. She and her husband 
deserve the reward of those who care 
for their parents, as they have kept 
the home till their children are grown 
and now the house rings with the 
music of their grandchildren's voices. 
The old house before it was grown to 
its present size, enjoyed the advant- 
ages of travel, as it was built on the 
old road by the creek near the S. E. 
corner of the flat where an old well 
and apple trees were long to be found. 
It was moved to the neir or present 
road about 183i, and was then added 
to and Henry Lilly and family shared 
the shelter until their house on the 
Phelps place was done. A few years 
later, when .Tonathan Lilly married 
Hannah Davis, they lived there wiiile 
their new home was made ready. 
About 1845, Harrington Austin and 
Sarah .lane Brigham (sister of Almira 
Lilly ) were married in this home and 
for some time lived in a part of it. 
and some of their children were born 



—23" 



there. Charles F. Hv»ltnes. his mother 
and wife, Mary J. Sewarii. a-lsu oeeu- 
pied a part of this hospitable home, 
a,nd perha|)s others now out of mind. 

Durinjj- the hite. oO's the Briyhani 
family, oecupyiiiii- Mrs. Lilly's farm, 
"Canada Castle." was broken up by 
the death of the father, Naham Briij- 
ham and daughter. Louisa, so Orsa- 
mus and family went there for three 
years to care fo- Mrs. Martha Bviff- 
ham and the "Castle". The old home 
farm then was rented for that time to 
Marcus Dayton, who married Martha 
Ann Briyham. When the Lilly family 
returned they brou^-ht old Mrs. Brig- 
hara back with them and until her 
death, at 9(i years of a^je, this was her 
home 

The three oldest dauuhters. Lucy, 
Achsah and Eimice married while 
living- at the "Castle. "" but the dear 
old home has ke])t its doors wide open 
to them, their children and gi-and- 
childi-en ever since Orsamus Lilly 
went to his reward at the ag^e of 81, a 
g-ood man with the respect of all. 

"With long- life will I satisfy them 
and show them the joys of my salva- 
tion. ' A L. S. 



Michael White Recalls 
History. 



Much Early 



Hydeville, Oct 190;L 
3Ir. J. W. Lillii: 

De.\k Sir: — Tn compliance with 
your request, to "di-aw on my memory 
of the olden times in and about Castle 
Creek, and also a little yenealoyical 
history of myself and ancestors," that 
you may put it with your articles 
published in the Rh:pokter. I will 
endeavor to do so. And the last shall 
be first, as in order to give an ac- 
count of the earliest settlers it will be 
necessary to consult some of their 
descendants of the fourth, and jierhaps 
fifth o-eneration. As for myself, I am 
of Puritan descent. My ancestors 
came over in the Mayflmnf, and 
Peregrine White was the first white 
child born in New England, and he 
was horn on board the vessel before 
they landed. I cannot give the links 
of descent farther back than my great 
grandfather. I had a book, entitled 
the AV(r E))yl(iiitl Chronohxjii. which 
gave the names of all the passengers, 



and was a journal of the company for 
several years, but unfortunately it 
was burned vviih the rest of ray library 
iu a schoolhouse, where I was teach- 
ing, si.xty-nine years ago. I have 
never seen but one other, and that was 
owned by Masitn W^hiting, of Bing- 
hamton, over sixty years ago; would 
that I knew into whose hands it has 
fallen. 

I do not know the date of the birth 
or death of mv great grandfather, 
Johnathan White. I have in my 
possession sooae of his writings 
among- them is a Bill of Sale of a 
negro girl, of which the following- is a 
CO p > : 

•'Know all men by these present that 
[, Seth .Johnson, of Lebanon, in the 
county of Windham, for, and in con- 
sideration of the sum of fifty jtounds, 
Lawful money to me in hand paid by 
Capt. .fohnathan White of sd. Town 
& county. Have therefore and do here- 
by sell, passover and Convey unto the 
said Johnathan White, his heirs cV 
Assigns, One Certain Negro Girl 
Named Philli's, about sixteen or 
seventeen Years of Age, to be &: re- 
main a Slave during her sd. Ptiilli's 
Natural Life, To hold & possess the 
sd. Negro Girl as a slave, free & 
clear of all claims and Demands what- 
soever from any other person or per- 
sons—Hereby Covenanting that the 
said Negro Girl is sound A well for 
aught is known to me the sd. Johnson. 

In witness whereof I have hereunto 
sett mv Hand This ^th day of July A 
Dom lT(il*. 

Signed cS: D'd in presence of 

.Jon. Trumble 

Jon. Trumble jr. Seth Johnson.'" 

This Bill of Sale written 141 years 
ago is as plain and easy to read as if 
written yesterday. 

I do not know the date of birth or 
death of my grandfather, Enoch White, 
son of Jonathan White, but I find in 
the catalogue of Yale College publish- 
ed in 1778, that he graduated from that 
institution in 1764, one hundred and 
thirty-nine years ago. He studied for 
the ministry and was for many years 
pastor of the church in Lebanon, 
Conn. He had but one daughter, 
Sally, who was never married, and 
died young. He had several sons, of 
whom my father, Rosrer White, was 
the youngest. In 1797 or 1798 he 



—•14-' 



mxrveS. with his family to the town of 
Middlebui'^', in Scholiar-ieco., N. Y.,: 
where he bought a wild farm v\hich he 
and his boys cleared and where he 
lived till the time of his death. He 
worked sooje with the boy» on the 
farm during;' 6he week and preached on 
Sundays. 1 have some of his manu- 
scripo sermons. His son,. Roger, m-y 
father, was born Sept. Tih, 1TW2. con- 
sequently was but five years okl when 
they moved from Lebanon. In .laiy 
1814, be married Sarah Brant, daugh- 
ter of Michael Brant, hrst settler of 
Rensseiaerville. of whom mention is 
made in a note in Frenches Gazeleer 
of New York. 

I was born August 27th, 1815, and 
in the spring of 1818, my father moved 
to the town of Smilhvtlle, Chenango- 
CO., when I was a little more than tw<^ 
years old. He bought a small farm 
in the wtrods where, as yet, there was 
no road. 

In 1837 he sold out and bought a 
part of lot \'fy^) in the Grand Divij«ioo 
of the Boston Purchase, in the town 
of Barker, Broomt -co. , being the farm 
now owned and ojcup ed by Harvey 
Gray. At that time it was an unbroken 
wilderness from the little creek that 
passes through the farm to the Nanii- 
coke creek three miles west, and from 
the Spencer Hill road north, nearly to 
Whitney's Point, traversed onl\ by 
deer, wolves, panther^ and other wild 
animals and hunters— no public road 
nearer thin Hyde street on the east 
and Castle Creek on the south. 

There were but few inhabitants at 
Castle Creek at that time. Deacon 
West lived in a small frame house 
near where Mr. Newcorab's house now 
stands, and just on the corner where 
we turned to go to Phineas Spencer's, 
on the hill west, was the old plank 
school house. Nearly opposite lived 
Root French and a little further north 
lived his brother, Ira French, 'i'hey 
both owned farms on the east side, of 
the road and owned and run a saw 
mill situated a little above where the 
hiiih bridge now is, on the road run- 
ning east to Chenango Forks. Nearly 
opposite to Ira French, lived Wm. 
West, son of Deauon West, not far 
from where Anthony North now lives. 
His house was a long, story and a 
half house. He kept a tavern and a 
small store, and also run an a?hery 



near the spot where Seaman ^s brack- 
smith shop now elands, where he made; 
pota-h. David VVriyht lived a little- 
further down and worked isi the ashei-y 
for Mr. West. 

At that time they had no stated) 
preaching nearer than at tins church, 
down towards Glen Castle. The old 
M. E. church stood by the old ceme- 
tery east of the njad just l)elow .John 
S. Kna' n's farm. The Presbs terians,. 
led by E- der Wm. West. »sed to hoUi 
meetintis in the school house. They 
had a book of sermons,, and as my 
father was a Presbyterian and I was 
coosidernd a tolernhl^ reader, I was 
often trailed on to read a sermon for 
them. An)ong those who formed the 
congreiral ion,, that 1 can now recall to- 
mind, were \ oiirgrandfather Foster Lil- 
ly,, vonr father, your uncle, Orsamus^ 
and two others whose naraes I have for- 
U'Otetn. but I think Arunah was there too. 
From the west hill came Deacon Arunah 
Hall and his fauiily. .Mr. Siuith and 
his family, Deacon West and bis fami- 
ly and others whose names I have for- 
gotten. 

A few years later Samuel Mills and 
his son-in-law, Eb'-r Deunison, from 
tiuilford. moved to Castle Creek. Mr. 
DennisoD was a builder, and they 
hired him to build a church, and as I 
had some experience in that line, tliey 
hired me to work with him. They hired 
him by the day and me by the month, 
and hired him to board me. We lived 
in a -imall house on tiie south side of 
the Spencer hill road at the top of the 
first pitch where is, or, was a small 
orchard. With the exception of a few- 
days' work Eher Dennison and myself 
did all the work on the first church 
ever built at Castle Creek. He after 
some years moved West, I think tf) 
Wisconsin. He was an excellent man 
and his was a lovely family. The 
church was old style, a gallery on 
three sides with stairs at either end of 
the vestibule, and session room over 
the vestibule and back of the pulpit, 
which was very high and approached 
by a Hight of steps on each side. 

About this time Alvah Hough, a 
wagon maker, moved to Castle Creek 
and located near where Mr. Rock wood 
now lives. His tir.-t wife was a Miss 
St. .John. They hail two children, 
uirls. The older, Salina L., taught 
school in after years and married a 



very worthy man, Mr. .James Hoggf, 
nephew of tbe celebrated Eltrick shep- 
herd. They have now retired from 
farm work and ai'e speiidini»' a quiet 
and happy old age at East Maine. 
The other dauyhier, Saiuantha went 
West with her father, and married a 
preacher by the name of Reid. She is 
since dead. Also at this time Hiram 
Dennison, brother of Eber, moved 
here from Guilford, Chenango-co. , 
also David Ingersoll, a son-in-law of 
Samuel Mills. These all being Pres- 
byterians were quite a help to the 
society. 

Passing on up the hill north from 
Castle Creek, when I hrst knew it the 
first building was a hotel kept at that 
time by a Mr. Benjamin of whose 
antecedents I am not cognizant. Next 
as you took the Adams street, lived 
Nelson Dunham in a small house on 
the knoll on the left side of the road, 
then a young man lately married to 
Miss Nancy Gay lord. He was then 
farming and engaged in a small 
way in butchering and peddling meat 
in Binghamton. He afterv/ard built a 
house on the Hyde road where John 
Dunham now lives and became quite 
wealthy. Just a few rods north of 
where John Dunham now lives, by 
turning to the left into a private road 
and following it about one-half a mile, 
we would strike a branch of Castle 
Creek, where lived Larnard Liver- 
more, a local M. E. preacher on the 
farm that belonged to his father, who 
then lived with his son to whom he 
had given his farm. The father was 
very old, was at the battle of Bunker 
Hill — thinks he fired the first gun — 
was but eighteen years old — saw Gen. 
Warren carried by in a blanket mor- 
tally wounded, the blood running in a 
large stream beneath. Warren said 
as he passed, "Fight on boys, fight 
on, you are doing well." I have 
listened to his description of that 
battle with much interest when a boy. 
He now lies in the cemetery where the 
old M. E. church once stood, about 
two miles below Castle Creek village. 
I helped make his coffin. He used to 
show me his rifle and powder horn 
that he used at that battle. Wonder 
who has them? 

Henry M. White. 



Friend Lilly:— 

You no doubt, expected me to w,ii-,e 
you long ere this, and I intended lo do 
so. but circumstances, over which I 
had no control, prevented, is the only 
excuse I have to otfer; and even now 
L do not feel like undertaking it, but 
Mr. Branday is so urgent, I will do 
the best I can. I shall endeavor to 
describe thinss as I saw them seventy 
years ago. My descriptions must be 
brief, and more, or less defective, but 
as nearly correct as I can remember. 

In the former letter I wrote you, I 
)eft you, I think, at Larnard Liver- 
more's. I now propose that you travel 
with me in a log road (there is no 
other) up the creek to the north side 
of the Livermore clearing where we 
•ome to a sawmill, and near it a log 
house where lived Isaac Livermore, 
son of Larnard Livermore, who had 
bought 80 acres off the north side of 
his father's farm and on it was the 
sawmill, a primitive affair having an 
old fashioned flutter waterwheel made 
of wood, and about six feet long, and 
an upright saw hung in a heavy 
wooden sash. He had recently mar- 
ried Miss .Jane Dudley, of Smithville, 
and moved to this place: they, like all 
of the Larnard Livermore family, were 
worthy people and very desirable 
neighbors. 

Passing on still further up stream, 
through the woods, we come to another 
clearing of four acres, here lived 
Elijah Bolster, who had lately moved 
here from Hyde Settlement. He had 
cleared a small space, and built a log 
house, but as yet no barn. The house 
was near the brook, and where recent- 
ly Lorenzo Hand lived and died. The 
house is still standing. 

Still moving up stream, through 
dense forest, a little more than half a 
mile, we come to another and larger 
•learing, this is lot No. 196 in the 
Grand Division of the Boston Pur- 
chase, containing a fraction over 260 
acres. It once belonged to the first 
wife of Elisha Pease. Over sixty 
years ago Elisha Pease — then an aged 
man — informed me that he helped sur- 
vey the Boston Purchase. He married 
a Miss Stone, daughter of one of the 
Boston purchasers, who gave his 
daughter this lot of land. He said he 
«leared four acres on the flat along 
the creek west of the house where 



—26— 



Harvey Gray now lives, and sowed it 
to wheat and built a small log' barn. 
He had a very large growth of wheat 
bat OQ account of its being so shaded 
by the surrounding forest the berry 
shrunk badly, however, he harvested 
it and put it in his barn, and said he, 
"1 did not see the place again far 
forty years and then it was all rotted 
down." Be did not know of another 
clearing at that time nearer than Che- 
nango b'orks. He went after his wife, 
but learning that the place was so 
remote from any settlement, and sur- 
rounded by an extensive forest inhab" 
ited only by wolves, bears, panthers 
and other wild beasts, and traversed 
by Indian hunters, she refused to 
come, and they settled for a time in 
the town of Fenton, where they were 
the hrst settlers, and their son, Chester 
Fease— afterwards for many years a 
local M. K. preacher — was the first 
white child born in that town. Mrs. 
Pease died in early life, leaving two 
children, a son, Chester, and a 
daughter whose name I cannot now 
recall. Before her death she gave her 
husband a deed of fifty acres across 
the east end of lot 19(>, The rest of 
the lot she had divided in the centre 
by a line running east and west; the 
north half she gave to her dauuhter, 
who afterwards sold it to Graves 
Collins, and the south half she gave 
to her son, Chester. This was the 
farm my father bought, and is the 
place now owned and occupied hy 
Harvey Gray. Elisha Pease married 
again, lived some years in Cincinna- 
tus, Cortland Co., and not long- after 
we moved to the place we bought of 
Chester Pease. Elisha Pease moved 
onto his fifty acres, where he lived 
until the time of his death. He left 
two children by his second wife, a son. 
B. B. Pease, now 87 years old and 
living (ID his farm about one mile west 
of Castle Creek; add a daughter, who 
I think is still living in Cortland-co., 
but I am not certain. 

When we moved on the farm my 
father bought of Mr, Pease, there was 
considerable clearing on the daughter's 
half, and Edward Graves, who owned 
the next fai-in north, had also a good 
sized clearing, and aUo a frame house 
and barn, so that alto^tther here was 
a good sized opening in the wilder- 
nessj but it was entirely surrounded 



by forest and had n? public road 
Mr. Graven had a private road ou 
north, down a ste-p hill to the Hyde 
Settlement road, half a mile di:^tant, 
near which he, with his father, Abram 
Graves, and his two brothers, Abram^ 
Jr., and Munsou, owned and i-un a 
large double sawmill, about two miles- 
below the head of the Castle Creek. 

And now as we have got back to 
Castle Creek proper once more, we 
will endeavor lo give some account of 
the early settlers here. Though some- 
had moved away and others dieti 
before I came here, yet there still re- 
mained a goodly number with whom I 
became familiarly acquainted, and 
from whom I learned something of the 
history of those who had passed away. 
The earliest settler of whom I have 
any information, according to my 
recollection, was Gen. Caleb Hyde, 
(father of Maj. Chauacey Hyde) who, 
in 1795 bought the place which Fred- 
rick Hyde now owns and occupies. 
He built a house on the Hill where the 
Lombardy poplars. ( wnich he planted ) 
are still growing and where the road 
over the hiH wax first made. I have 
been informed he died in 1820. 

Maj. Chauncey Hyde, from Lenox. 
Mass., moved to Rochester in 1793', 
He afterward visited Utica, Chenango 
Point (now Binghamton) and lastly 
Barker, where he bought a large trace- 
of forest, f the farm now owned by the 
heirs of the late George Hyde, the 
Major's youngest son } On this farm 
he lived till his death. He to-ld me 
that at that time he could have bought- 
land in Binghamton, where the Court 
House now stands, for 10 shillings 
($1.25) an acre, but the timber was 
dwarf pine and oak. and he thought 
the soil too light for farm purposes^ 
he wanted land capable of bearing- 
larqe trees. 

The first clearing he made was just 
back of where the M. E. church now 
stands. He built a log house where 
the old orchard is, above the road and 
a short distance north of the present 
house. He paid fmii* dollars an acre 
for the land. He was two weeks with 
two yoke of o.xcii moving from Roches- 
ter to this place. When he got to 
Richford he found the road so narrow 
that he oonld not get through until he 
bad hired men to widen the road. 



—27- 



Maj. Hyde raised a larg-e family, all 
of whom became highly prized mem- 
bers of society. He was always noted 
for his gfenial hospitality. He repre- 
senf'^il Bfoome-co., two or three terms 
in the Assembly at Albany, and it was 
throu^^h his influence that the large 
town of Lisle was divided into four 
towns, now known as Lisle, Triangle. 
Barker and Nanticoke. 

His sou, CoK John Hyde, in com- 
mon witlj his brother, Chauncey, Jr., 
who was deaf and dumb, became the 
proprietors of the old homestead after 
their father's death. After the death 
of Col. .lohn Hyde it passed into the 
possession of the late George Hyde, 
the Major's youngest son, and now 
belonofs to his heirs. 

Col. John Hyde married Miss 
Jerusha Stiles, a sister of Judge 
Oliver StileSb They had no children. 
They wei"e noted for their liberality 
toaards all worthy objects. The Col. 
was a public spirited man, always 
ready to engage in any enterprise that 
was likely to prove a public benefit. 
He represented Broomeco. in the 
Convention that revised the Constitu- 
tion ot the state of New York in 1847. 
He died in lS5;i, regretted by all who 
knew him. especially by the poor. I 
was with him the night before he died. 
His widow made her home with her 
favoi'ite nephew. Charles Hyde, Jr., 
until her fleath, which occurred Dec. 
12, 1898. She was a lovely woman and 
worthy of the man she so dearly loved . 

Capt. Charles Hyde, an older son of 
Maj. Hyde, married Anne Seymour, 
daughter of John Seymour of Norwalk, 
Ct. . and lived several years in the house 
built by Gen. Caleb Hyue, of whose 
farm he had become proprietor, but 
after the McCoy hill road was closed 
and the new road made he built a nice 
residence on the new road where his 
youngest son. Fredrick, now resides. 
He was a man of strict integrity, a 
good farmer and highly respected. 
He held many town offices and lived to 
the advanced a^e of 81 years. They 
had but three children, Caroline, who 
married John H. Knapp, and Charles 
Jr., who married Caroline Gates, a 
fine scholar, daughter of the well- 
known. Prof. William Gates. She 
died in 1901. leaving four sons. Wil- 
liam, Merton. Julian and Lucien. 
Fredrick, youngest son of Charles 



Hyde, Sr., married Kate Beardsley. 
They have six children, Arthur, Kath- 
rine, Abbie, Frank, Ruth and Lizzie. 

Franklin Hyde, son of Maj. Hyde, 
married Maria Freeman, of Lisle. 
They lived several years in the house 
on the farm where Calvin came and 
settled soon after the Major came, but 
of which Fratjklin Hyde had become 
proprietor, but after a few years he 
built a nice cottage on the new road 
on the east end of the farm, which is 
now owned by the heii'S of Richard 
Parker. Franklin was the best 
scholar in the family, and for many 
years did all the surveving in this part 
of the county. They had four children 
of whom only the widow of Col. Eid- 
ridge survives. 

Another of the early settlers was 
Nathaniel Bishop, of Lebanon, Mass. 
He came in 1802, and bought a lar^e 
farm. It is claimed that he built the 
tirst frame house in the settlement, it 
stood a few rods below Mr. Wooster's 
present residence. It was taken down 
only a few years ago. He planted an 
orchard and some of the trees are still 
standing, but are deca\ ing. and they 
are being cut for fuel. They are very 
large — some of them two teet in diam- 
eter. He sold to AariKi Gay lord, who 
in after years let his sons, Charles 
and Elias have it. It is now owned 
and o;;cupied by Elias Gaylord's 
daughter and her husband, J. K. 
Wooster. 

Capt., or judge, or as he was most 
generally called, Deacon Oliver Stiles 
from Westtield, Mass., came in 180H, 
and bought a large piece of forest 
land lying nwrth and adjoining the 
land afterward bought by Abram 
Graves, on which he built a house on 
the east side of the road, and a barn 
on the west side about one-fourth of a 
mile north of J. K. Wooster's present 
residence, also a sawmill on the creek 
near where John Davis now lives. All 
these structures are now gone. 

Deacon Stiles was a fair scholar 
and teacher, a good farmer and busi- 
ness man, and of strict Puritan princi- 
ples in which he faithfully instructed 
his family which was large and re- 
spectable. He held many important 
town offices and was for many years 
Deacon of the Presbyterian Church. 
After his death the farm came into the 
possession of his son, the late Simeon 



-28- 



Stiles, who sold ninety acres on the 
west side of the road, to the late 
Walter Davi^, reserving the lot on the 
east side of the road where the house 
formerly stcjud, also a good farm dh 
the west end of the lot, on which he 
built a good house and barn, and 
whei'B he lived until the time of his 
death in 19U3. 

Aaron Gaylord, of Salisbury, Conn., 
came in 1(SI2 and settled on what is 
now the fai'm belonging tixhis yrand- 
son, David Gaylord. He had at that 
time a family of eight children. He 
moved with a cart and oxen and was 
ten days on the road. He lived in the 
house with Calvin Hyde until he could 
build one for himself. He was a 
blacksmith by trade, and a good one. 
The old fashioned wrought iron plow 
share for the wooden plow was his 
speciality. He bought a large farm, 
was a good fai'mer, became wealthy 
and had a large family of seven sons 
and four daughters, all of whom be- 
came highly i-espectable members of 
society. Mr. Gaylord lived on the 
place where he first settled, till his 
death in 1852, aged 73 years. Himself 
and all his descendants have ever been 
noted f«r their benevolence to all who 
were in want. 

Gilbert Shaffer, from Hillsdale, 
Columbia-co., N. Y., came in ISKi, 
and bought out Ebby Hyde, who lived 
where Wm. Hyde, son of Charles 
Hyde, Jr., now lives opposite the M. 
E. church. He was a weaver by trade, 
but made a very good farmer. He 
was not an educated man but he was 
very anxious that his children should 
receive a good education, and gave 
them the best opportunity in his power. 
Chauncey, his eldest son, became quite 
a noted lawyer in New York City. 
Allen enlisted in the U. S. Navy, 
where he remained many years, when 
ill health compelled him to return to 
his father's house, where not long 
after he died of consumption. Sarah 
Ann, the oldest daughter, became a 
teacher, and wrote some for the press. 
She married a Mr. Truax, whose vo- 
cation I do not now recollect. Jane, 
the younger sister, -staid at home with 
her parents until she married a man 
whose name I have forgotten, but he 
was engaged in the manufacture of 
glass. George married a Miss Has- 
brook and moved to New York City. 



Chai'les the yomm-est of the family, 
married and lived at the old home- 
stead uutil his father's death. Soon 
after he moved away, and I think he 
is dead. 

Lemuel Foot, from Dutchess-co., in 
1817, bought of Mr. Hanchet the farm 
next west of what was called the Bur- 
gess farm, where Gilbert Walter now 
lives. They had but three children, 
two daughters, who died unmarried, 
and a son, John M.. who married 
Ruth VVooster. He died leaving a 
son and daughter, both still living, as 
is also the widow. 

Col. John Hyde became the owner 
of the Burgess farm which he after- 
wards sold to his brother, George, 
who sold it to Asaph Walter; it is now 
in the possession of his son's widow 
and her son, Gilbert. The Walter 
family are enterprising and desirable 
citizens. 

Morris Smith was an early settler 
on the farm, a little west of the Lemuel 
Foot farm, now owned by Albert King, 
as is the Phelps place, now occupied by 
his son. 

Obadiah Stephens, formerly from 
New Jersey, in 1846 settled on the 
place owned by his wife, where her 
daughter and husband (Alexander 
Dunham) now live. 

At an early day a man from the 
East, whose name I have forgotten, 
bought the place now occupied by 
Squire Allen, cleared a part of it and 
seeded it with grass seed. He then 
left for home, leaving it in the care of 
John Hyde, saying he should return 
before very long. Time passed until 
Mr. Hyde thought it time for him to 
return. As he did not come Mr. Hyde 
wrote his friends and inquired why he 
did not come, and learned that he had 
not been home and that they knew 
nothing of his whereabouts. Mr. 
Hyde paid the taxes as they became 
due and used the cleared lot for a 
pasture. Many years passed and still 
he did not come. At length Henry 
Knapp proposed to buy it. Mr. Hyde 
told him that for ten dollars he would 
give him a quit claim deed, and did 
so. This was more than 50 years ago 
and since that time it has been sold 
several times. 

Abram Graves came at an early day 
and bought a lot next south of Na- 
thaniel Bishop and built a large saw- 



-29- 



mill which was afterward made a 
■double mill. This was the best water 
privilege on Castle Creek and did an 
immense amount of sawino- for those 
■days; might have done more with less 
whiskey. I do not know the exact 
time when Mr. Graves came, but I 
think not far from 1S2U, and 1 think he 
told me he was from Lebanon, Ct. He 
had four sons, Edward, who bought 
and cleared the farm now owned by 
Harry Deidrick, of Binghamton; 
Abram, who was never married and 
died in early life; Munson, who be- 
came owner of the old homestead, 
which he traded with Graves Collins 
for the place now owned by Philo 
Landers, but formerly by John Lyon; 
and John, who married and moved to 
Illinois and became quite wealthy. 
They are dead, as are also the three 

daughters, , Lucy Ann and 

Catharine. The Graves family were 
industrious and good neighbors. 

Aaron Loomis of Lebanon, Conn., 
in 1822, settled on a farm next south 
of Abram Graves. The family con- 
sisted of two sons, one of whom was 
drowned in the Graves mill pond, the 
other son died in early life; and four 
daughters, Lora, who married Richard 
Eldredge; Marcia. who first married 
Harvey Doubleday. who died leaving 
two children, George and Eliza Ann, 
both of whom are still living. She 
afterward married Augustine Hayes, 
(son of Elder Caleb Hayes) who sev- 
eral years after died leaving three 
children, a son, Charles J., who owns 
and occupies the farm first settled by 
George Dunham, and also a large 
part of the Loomis farm. He is an 
enterprising and up to date farmer, a 
public spirited citizen and kind neigh- 
bor and an efficient town officer. The 
eldest daughter, Ella, married Alvice 
Dunham. They live in Sullivan-co., 
Pa. The younger daughter, Ida, 
married Floyd Stamphler, (son of C. 
J. Hayes's third wife). They own and 
occupy the north half of the Loomis 
farm. Mr. and Mrs. Loomis had two 
other daughters, Diadama and Claris- 
sa, neither of whom ever married. The 
family are all dead. Marcia was the 
last, she died at the advanced age of 
89 years. The Loomis family was 
always highly respected in the com- 
munity. 



Rev. Caleb Hayes of Greene, Che- 
nango-co., N. Y., came in 1819, and 
lived for awhile on the road leading 
from the Graves farm to Adams-st. , 
about half a mile east of the Collins 
farm. He afterwards bought a farm 
on the Adams Settlement road south 
of the farm once owned by John Gray 
and built a house on the west side of 
the road, where he lived till the time 
of his death in 1856, at the advanced 
age of 8-5 years. He was a man of 
sterling integrity and for very many 
years the only Baptist preacher in 
this part of the county. He had three 
sons, Jacob, the eldest, who bought 
and settled on the farm now occupied 
by Theodore Green. He was an ener- 
getic farmer and an honest man. He 
and his wife died several years ago 
leaving one daughter, Amelia, who 
sold to Mr. Green and moved with 
some of her friends to Colorado. The 
next son was Augustine Hayes, who 
married the widow Doubleday and 
lived on the Loomis farm till his 
death in 1877. His other and youngest 
son, Caleb, Jr., married Harriet, 
daughter of Elder William West, of 
Castle Creek. They lived with Elder 
Hayes, and after his father's death 
erected a neat cottage on the east side 
of the road, where his son, Eugene, 
now resides. His widow married Eli 
Boardman, who died a few years ago. 
The widow still survives. 

Elijah Wood was an early settler. 
I do not know his native place but 
think he was from Dutchess-co. He 
came in 1815 and bought and settled 
on the place next east of Aaron Gay- 
lord, on the cross road between Hyde 
and Adams Settlements. He sold to 
John Dunham, of Dutchess-co., in 
1832. The farm is now owned by his 
grandson, Edgar Dunham. 

John Dunham had a large family of 
seven sons and four daughters. 
George first settled on the place where 
C. .J. Hayes now lives, built a log 
house on the knoll just back of Mr. 
Hayes's large red barn, cleared a few 
acres and then sold to Barnum Sheva- 
lier, who sold to Abner Adams, who 
gave it to his second wife and she sold 
it to Mr. Hayes. He and Albert, his 
brother, then bought and settled in the 
foreijt about midway between the creek 
where Harvey Gray lives and the 
Nanticoke Creek. They were the first 



—30— 



settlers on wtat is now called Anoka, 
but heretofore Dunham Hill. NeldOQ 
settled where his son, John, now livus. 
Abner on the place tha^- Talcott Alder- 
man has just sold to Will Smith, but 
Abner sold and moved to Grand 
Rapids, Michigan, where he became 
wealthy. Hiram after a time bought 
the old homestead of his brother, 
Lewis. John bought and settled on 
Dunham Hill, opposite George and 
Albert. Lewis sold the old place and 
moved to Whitney's Point. He is the 
only one of his fathei's sons who still 
survives. Of the daughters one married 
Adonirara Foot, one married John 
Satchwell, one Schuyler Bolland. and 
Wealthy, the youngest, married Orrin 
Harris, and she is the only one of the 
girls still living. 

Ellas Shevalier, from Dutchess-co. , 
was an early settler on the hill. He 
built a log house on the place now 
owned by the heirs of George Ross, 
on the south side of this road that is 
between this place and the Stiles farm 
and near the residence of the late 
Simeon Stiles. At that time there was 
no road, and from there to Nanti- 
eoke west was an unbroken wilderness. 
There were six children in the family. 
Nelson, Solomon and John, and the 
daughters were lietsey, Sarah and 
Chloe. The fdmily are dead. They 
in later years built a good frame 
house in whi^-h no one now lives. 
They also had an orchard of excellent 
fruit which is still in excellent bear- 
ing. 

John Seymour, of Norvalk, Conn., 
came at an early date. I do not know 
the exact date at which he came, but 
think it must hav.: Ueeri not l;ir from 
1820. He was a tailor by iradc He 
bought the place iie.\t noith. of Dea- 
con Stiles. He was a iiiiod farmer, 
and for a tinu; kept a house o^' enter- 
tainment. He was ;in upidiiht man 
lived to a g'ood old age. His children 
were four in number and all of excel- 
lent character. Anson married a 
daughter of Ira Seymour. Thi y had 
no children. He bought a large farm 
in Nanticoke. afterwards owned by 
Frank and Wm. Walter (now in 
possession of Frank Walter and Jas. 
Gaylord.) He was quite a business 
man. He died several years ago. 
Harry, the younger son, inherited the 
old homestead, which several years 



after his father's death he sold to Wur, 
Beals. Since Mr. Beals's death it has> 
parsed through several hands and is 
now in possession of F. Hull of Bing- 
hamton. His daughter, Alma Sey- 
mour, married John Beach, father of 
the late William Beach, of Whitney's^ 
Point. Anne mai-ried Charles Hyde, 
father of Charles Hyde, Jr. Of» the 
John Seymour family none now sur- 
vive. 

.John Wooster, from Guilford, Che- 
nango-co., in 1S41 bouiiht a farm next 
to b'ranklin Hyde on the road over 
Pease Hill. He was the father of 
six children by his first wife and twelve 
by his second wife, eighteen in all. Of 
the children of his first wife I have 
not much knowledge, but with moat of 
the children of the second wife I have 
been intimately acquainted. John 
Wooster was an upright man, an in- 
dustrious and prosperous farmer, and 
brought up his large family to respect 
industrious and good moral habits, 
and they have not departed from his 
instructions. J asper married Harriet 
Knapp. Then he bought a farm at 
Union Centre. He prospered iu his 
farming and was considered the best 
farmer in that locality. They were 
both highly prized members of the 
Pre.-ibyterian church, generous and 
hosi)itable. After her father's death 
their younger daughter and her hus- 
band , Albert Thoi-n, have lived with 
Mrs. Wooster and have charge of the 
farm, which is a yood one and welJ 
kept. The other daughter, Mrs. 
Newell, lives at Willow Point and are 
doing a prosperous business there. 
Another son, John Wooster, married 
Lucy Adams, and John, Jr., is an 
enterprising tarmer two miles below 
Union Ceritr.^. Another son, Phineas, 
married the lady who is now the wife 
of Abel Beach, settled on a farm next 
below the old Page farm, and enlisted 
iu the army where he died during the 
Rebellion. Another son, Lyman, 
married Amelia Bowker. He was a 
blacksmith and a genius. He lived 
near Whitney's Point till the time of 
his death. His widow, a very worthy 
woman, still resides there. Moses, 
the youngest son, married Jennie 
Gray. They are in possession of the 
old homestead which they have very 
much improved. James K., another 
son, married Adalaide Gaylord. 



—31- 



They own and occupy the Nathaniel 
Birihop farm. They may be justly 
styled the pillars of the M. E. church 
in Hydeville, of which he is class 
leader. Their generosity and kind- 
ness to those in need are bounded only 
by their ability. 

Of the daughters, Ruth married 
John M. Foot, vvho died several years 
since. The widow, a highly respected 
and worthy woman, still survives. 
Sarah, another daughter, became the 
second wife of Asaph Walter. She 
was hiahly esteemed by ail who knew 
her. She survived her husband but a 
few years. 

Another of the early settlers whom I 
had forgotten to mention was Stephen 
Foot, from Dutchess-co. He was a 
shoemaker. He bought and settled on 
the place whei*e Hiram Gray now re- 
sides, and run a shop there many 
years. He was several times elected 
Justice and for raany years was class 
leader in the M. E. church. Later he 
sold out and moved to Whitney's 
Point and continued his business a 
few years and then moved West, where 
his only surviving child, Peter, had 
eoue several years before, and where 
he ended his days at an advanced age. 

Another early purchaser of land in 
this locality was Mr. Cad well. I do 
not know whether he built and lived 
here any time. He soon sold ti) Aaron 
Gay lord, who bougnt a large amount 
of land hereabouts and let his son, 
George, have this place — (now owned 
by Lorin Ford) also the farm now 
owned by Calvin Gaylord. He also 
gave his son, Henry, a farm through 
which Adams-st. passed. That part 
on the west side of the road is in the 
possf-ssion of Fi'ank Wentwortli and 
the pan on the opposite side is owned 
by Frank Harrin-ton. 

And now, friend Lilly, there are 
many families that came here at a 
later date that I would gladly notice 
had I time, but 1 have already written 
much more than expected, or intended 
to, owing to people here having sent 
the paper containine" my former letter, 
to their friends, who formerly lived 
here, some in Los Angeles and San 
Juan, California; and in Illinois, 
Missouri and other localities, who 
have written back I'equesting them to 
send the next paper as they wish to 
learn something of the whereabouts of 



the dcscenflants of the early settlers, 
and have tried to give some informa- 
tion concerning them, which I at first 
was not intending to do. 

The first settlers on Adams-st. also 
I desire to have noticed, but I will 
leave them for an abler pen. I would 
suggest that you apply to Mr. Dexter 
Scoughton, who is a little older than I 
am, and lived there long before I 
came to Broome-co., and is able to 
give you a far better account of the 
first settlers than I could. 

1 would also like to give you a his- 
tory of the first settlers on Dunham 
Hill — the My ricks. Greens and others, 
vvho came in later, but at present have 
not time to do so: perhaps at a later 
date I may do so if desired. 

And now. wishing you success in 
your undertaking, and hoping to hear 
from you soon and oficn, for the pres- 
ent, I bid you adieu, 

H. M. White. 
Hydeville, N. Y.. February 29, 190-). 



Recollections of Early Castle 
Schools. 



Creek 



BY MRS. JULIAETTE ALDERMAN ROCK- 
WOOD. 

I find in the ''History of Broome 
County," mention of a log school 
house which stood at the foot of 
'•Cherry R,idge" (north side) near 
where Charles N. Dunham now lives, 
built about LS14. The first school was 
held in it the winter of 1815. Cannot 
learn the teacher's name. The second 
school house was built as early as 
18:50. perhaps earlier. It stood near 
the present site of the M. E. Church. 
My brothers Jerome, Israel and Edwin 
Alderman first attended school there. 
Phoebe Lamoreaux was the teacher in 
1832. Cynthia Lilly was one of the 
earlier teachers and if there were any 
others previous to 1832 1 have no 
means of knowing who they were. M}' 
sister, Mrs. Abigail Alderman Cun- 
ningham, of Anamosa, la., informs 
me that Sally Lilly was her first 
teacher, about 1833. Next was 
Susanna Glines — not noted for her 
loving kindness to the little ones. 
Next Eliza Seward, of kind and lov- 
ing disposition. Then came Amanda 
Heed, a cousin of Isaac Livermore, 
whose successors were John Wire, 



-32- 



r 



Lydia Harrington, William Harrins- 
ton, (the latter noted for despotic 
cruelty), Eli Blair, Alenda and Eunice 
Temple, daughters of Capt. James 
Temple. Alenda was my brother, 
Talcott's first teacher, about 18."W. 
Jane Bowen Dayton tells me that her 
first remembrance of this school was 
the winter of 1S3S. Her people then 
lived at Union, N. Y. She boarded 
with her annt, Mrs. Amos Adams, 
( Adams Street. ) Her teacher's naiue 
was Peckham — "and he did jJGck 'cm 
too." The following- year her father, 
Isaac Bowen, moved into the Lilly 
district and from thence to Castle 
Creek the next year. Pamelia Liver- 
more was the teacher in the summers 
of 1840 and '4L I well recollect her as 
my first teacher in this school; I was 
not yet three years old — was not sent 
to school, but allowed to go, because 
I cried to go with my older brothers 
and sisters. 1 well remember that 
first school, young as I was. There 
was a huge fire place, and being in 
the summer time, it was filled with 
evergreens, out even with the hearth. 
I can even now see the mice peep up 
through the cracks and a daring one 
venture out into the room and scurry 
about, to the great amusement of us 
little ones, but to the great annoyance 
of our t'lsacher, who sometimes would 
throw h(i;r ruler so straight as to for- 
ever silence the mischievous intruder. 
No school days before my tenth year 
do I remember more vividly than this 
one. The teacher I loved with my 
little whole heart; she read the Bible 
and prayed every morning, allowing 
me to sit and then kneel beside her, I 
being the youngest of all her numerous 
flock. I recall how each class in read- 
ing and spelling had to "toe the 
crack" in the floor, hands folded be- 
hind them when spelling, how, when 
one missed a' word, the next who 
spelled correctly took the place nearer 
"the head," for when the pupil got to 
the head they were granted a mark of 
credit. I also recall the colors and 
pattern of clothing then worn by many 
of the scholars, showing how l((sting 
are the first impressions of our child- 
hood, more lasting than many sup- 
pose and a thought for our elders to 
consider, having the care of the little 
ones. As near as I can learn, this 
school house was burned down in the 



fall or early ■ winter of 1843. My 
father's family was then set off frcim 
this, to the Lilly district. Soon after, 
a new house was built near where 
William Slattery now lives. Harry 
Lyon was a teacher for two or three 
winter terms; Pamelia Livermore 
SL-vtrral summers. Michael White was 
teacher for two or three winter terms. 
Jane Bowen Dayton says that he was 
the best teacher she ever had. Eli 
Blair was another old time teacher. 
He tavght this school many winter 
terms; was a most excellent teacher, 
jolly, kind, true, firm; a good disci- 
plinarian. He required strict attention 
to study in school hours, but was a 
boy with the boys and girls too, out- 
side, tho' a man well on in years, 
with a large family of boys and girls 
of his own, when the writer was one of 
his pupils in the w'inter of 1853-4, 
about the last of his teaching. Charles 
and Alfred Pease, sons of Chester 
Pease, were early teachers in this 
school. Others were Lucy Leach, 
Jane Bowen, both model teachers; 
Emeline Smith, a relative of the fami- 
ly of Milton Stevens; Revillo K. Pal- 
mer, of Kattelville, was teacher in 
1857. Others following were: Hattie 
F'ollett, Achsah L. Lilly, Dwight 
French, Frank P. Blair, son of Eli, 
now a physician at Waverly, N. Y., 
Louisa Biair (Mrs. John Knapp), 
Emeretia Payne, Pamelia Huntley, 
Mary Sparkes, Mortimer Lawrence, 
Prank Brooks, (a number of winter 
terms ); Almeda Woodworth, (Lisle), 
Hattie Blair, daughter of Edson, 
Delia Fuller — afterward a missionary. 
About 18()8 the present school building 
was erected, near the center of the 
village. About this time a select 
school was opened and taught by a 
Mr. Kellogg, in the hall over the 
James Bristol store, now the residence 
of Clement L. French. 

Teachers in the new school house 
were, first, Nettie P. Clark,, now a 
teacher in Binghamton; others were, 
M. J. Gale, Lucy J. Strong, Elmore 
G. Page, Frank Brooks, Dora An- 
drews, Mary St. John, Mrs. Wilber 
Howard, Coe Tyler, John Brown, 
Merton Hyde, Katherine Hyde, Mrs. 
Dyer, Sadie Heacock, L. D. Wires, 
Walter Mix, Ada McDermott, Albert 
Pope. Celia Dunham, Charles Green, 
Mary Gilbert, Louisa Montgomery,^ 



